GGF
GEM GOING FORWARD
Walter Trevisan
Retired Maize Breeder
GEM TSG Chair
(MaizeBreeder@Gmail.com)
WEMA Confidential
Outline
GEM
Mission
GEM Yield targets
GEM Development Team
GEM GOING FORWARD
Conclusion
GEM MISSION
The mission of the GEM (Germplasm Enhancement of Maize)
Project is to effectively increase the diversity of U.S. maize
germplasm utilized by producers, global end-users and
consumers.
The mission is achieved through collaborative efforts of USDAARS, public, and private research scientists by utilizing exotic,
public, and proprietary maize germplasm. The resulting
germplasm and associated knowledge, derived via the
identification and incorporation of favorable alleles for prioritized
traits from exotic sources, are shared and utilized in private and
public breeding programs and ultimately contributes to increased
genetic diversity of maize grown by producers and improved
product performance.
In addition, the GEM Project provides opportunities for training
plant scientists in the enhancement and utilization of un-adapted
germplasm. This contributes to the global sustainability of
agricultural production, economic stability and the nutrition and
well being of society.
RACIAL BACKGROUND OF 270 GEM RELEASES
Race
Alazan
Argentino
Camelia
Cateto
Cateto Sulino
Composite (Suwan)
Composite (Tuxpeño)
Corn Belt Dent
Criollo
Criollo/Argentino (CUBA164)
Criollo/Tuson (CUBA173)
Cristalino Colorado
Cuban yellow
Dent. Blanco Rugoso
Dentado Blanco
Total
1
6
8
11
4
6
1
1
1
17
1
17
7
6
5
Race
Dente Amarelo
Dente Branco
Early Caribbean
Hybrid-tropical
Mixed
GEM Derived*
Multiple Borer Composite
Semidentado Riograndense
St. Croix
Suwan
Tropical Line
Tusón
Tuxpeño
Tuxpeño/Olotillo
Unclassified
Total
11
4
1
94
16
3
1
2
2
8
7
13
9
1
1
GEM: 301 temperate
adapted inbreds developed
from 35+ different EXOTIC
races/germplasm
Totals (~30 Races)
SOME EXAMPLES OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS

GEMS-0002 and GEMS-0003 identified for Fusarium Ear Rot and
Reduced Fumonisin

KO679Y, GEMS-0030, GEMN-0130 identified for reduced
aflatoxin levels

Antigua03:N1242 identified as potential source for Fall
Armyworm resistance

Multiple insect resistance identified in GEMN-0130, GEMN-0133,
and CUBA117:S15

GEMS-0015, GEMS27 and an uncoded inbred FS8A(T).N1804006-001 were identified as resistant to Late Wilt in Egypt

Several GEM inbreds were have shown resistance to MCMV in a
preliminary study done by CIMMYT in Mexico
NEW APPROACHES AT GEM TO TACKLE MORE
DIVERSITY

2010- GEM initiated an Allelic Diversity Project




March 2014- 200 untested DH inbreds developed from
75% Adapted Corn Belt /25% Exotic were released
jointly with the ISU Doubled Haploid Facility


Allows exploitation of larger number of races
Produce GEM germplasm that can be utilized for modern
haplotype discovery
Germplasm not ‘filtered’ for agronomic performance
Contribution of over 50 races
This single release almost doubled the number
of races exploited by GEM “conventional” in 20+
years

New batches will be released every other year
GEM MISSION- WHAT IS MISSING?
One of the main objectives of the project since its start is
to release diverse germplasm that are not less than 90%
of the yield level of the present commercials
After 23+ years of the GEM Project, the cooperators
agree that GEM has provided a considerable amount of
diversity germplasm that are available to US and out of
US seed companies
But….. that 90% yield target proved to be very difficult to
achieve
The gap has becoming greater as the seed industry changed
to fewer large seed companies with enormous resources
Seeking higher genetic gains, some large seed companies
have reduced considerably the genetic diversity utilized for
commercial purposes in the US
The TSG decided a year ago to have a small team to
develop a plan to study options to make GEM more agile
and try to meet the goal of 90% yield of the commercial
products.
THE GEM TSG DEVELOPMENT TEAM
 Members:
 Candice
Gardner- USDA-ARS-Ames
 Matt Krakowsky- USDA/GEM-Raleigh
 Martin Bohn- University of Illinois
 David Butruille- Monsanto Iowa
 Goran Srnic- Pioneer-Iowa
 David Uhr- Dow Agrisciences-Indiana
 Freeman Whitehead- AgReliant
 Walter Trevisan- Team Lead- TSG Chair
EXOTIC GERMPLASM INTROGRESSION
Germplasm Bank
Company A cross
to an adapted
proprietary Inbred
Company B cross
the F1 to an
adapted proprietary
Inbred
Improved Exotic
(Private; Public)
Opportunities to Improve
GEM
Raleigh (NC)
GEM
Ames (Iowa)
GEM x GEM
(Recycling)
GEM Inbred
Released
(S3)
GEM GOING FORWARD
EXOTIC GERMPLASM to INTROGRESS
Germplasm Bank Accessions
This is the most important part of GEM and will continue
It should follow the suggestions of the LAMP project for
most valuable germplasm to introgress
Improved Exotic Germplasm (Besides the sources
been used to date from Asia, Africa and Latin
America):US Cooperators have an option now to choose donating
temperate or tropical germplasm
Larger Seed Companies like Monsanto, Dow and possibly
AgReliant will be donating elite tropical germplasm to be
introgressed into GEM Elite germplasm.
GEM GOING FORWARD
TEMPERATE GERMPLASM to ADAPT EXOTICS
Cooperators have been /will be asked to use
temperate lines not older than 10-12 years from
PVP application
Some large cooperators have already agreed on this.
When not possible, GEM could use Ex-PVP
inbreds to use as donors for adaptation
Known Background allows better choice of testers
The last “Backcross” are the most important
50% of the final pedigree
GEM GOING FORWARD
Better Testers for GEM segregating materials
Historically Holden’s inbreds have been used
Now they are old and not competitive anymore
Recently Ames have moved to use MBS (Mike Brighton Seeds)
testers, with good success
The development team agrees that this a good strategy for the
GEM Ames Project and shall continue
As the GEM Elite x GEM Elite starts
to yield better finished DH inbreds
we foresee
Raleigh-NC these inbreds becoming
Holden’s or Mike Brighton’s testers don’t adapt very well
theSingle
GEM
predominant
crosses
have been used as testerstesters
In some years some seed companies have provided ICB
Constantly changed and sometimes, not heteroticaly aligned
Options:Convince cooperators to donate more ICB rows for GEM
Use GEM elite inbreds or North Carolina elite inbreds as testers
GEM GOING FORWARD
Decrease of Cycle Time (Summary)
The methodologies used at Ames and Raleigh were
discussed in depth and new modified routines were
established (pls review the attachments sent)
The Ames “Traditional GEM” methodology will be
decreased from 8 years to 6 years
The Ames recycling (Elite GEM X Elite GEM) will
decrease cycle time to 5 years using DH
If GEM could have resources for a
more aggressive winter nursery
usage, 1-2 years could be saved in
Monsanto will donate to GEM the induction, doubling and first
year testing of
4-6 populations
a year
each
routine
AgReliant will be inducing and doubling one population a year
We will be constantly seeking more contribution in this area
Raleigh “Traditional GEM” would decrease from 14
years to 9
Raleigh recycling (Elite GEM x Elite GEM) will decrease
cycle time to 5 years, with Monsanto DH cooperation
GEM GOING FORWARD
Other suggestions:Finish Allelic Diversity projects already started;
evaluate utilization of the inbreds B4 start new
projects
Disease evaluation network
Increase number of diseases evaluated to cover new
potential disease:- MLN; MCMV; Late Wilt; new races of
present important diseases, etc
Increase number of locations
Specialty Traits
Continue to access the grain quality of GEM releases
Quality traits identified has been identified as one of the most
important contribution of GEM germplasm
GEM GOING FORWARD
How much efforts in each activity?
(Suggested):Cooperator’s Tropical Elite x GEM Elite…....20%
Conv GEM Elite x GEM Elite…......................15%
DH GEM Elite x GEM Elite….........................25%
Traditional GEM (Germplasm Bank)….........25%
Alleclic Diversity............................................15%
Summary
Traditional GEM:- 45% (25% Germ bank + 20% Coop)
Recycling of GEM Elite:- 40% (15% Con + 25% DH)
Allelic Diversity:- 15%
We do have a chance with
projectsPLANT
likeBREEDING
GEMDILEMMA
that can:CONCLUSION
••TheUse
Better
Exotics
moreof
effective
plant
breeders become at selecting for
•desired
Usecharacteristics
of Better Temperates
tomarket
adaptdemand
Exotics
and the higher the
for
the greater
the risk
of rapid genetic diversity decline.
•results,
Decrease
Cycle
Time
What effects will increased intensity of selection have on our
•ability
Use
Improved
to make
ongoingmethodologies
genetic gains for the next 10, 20, 50, 100
•years?
Use DH for recycling
•How do plant breeders go beyond single gene introgression of
•useful
If possible,
more
resources
dedicated
alleles from exotic
sources
to tackling
a greater to:• winter
nurseries
quantitative,
massive
recombination challenge of utilizing
unadapted,
yet highly
diverse network
germplasm?
• a larger
testing
Dave Bubeck, 2013- DuPont Pioneer-USA
• So… we can acchive the GEM yield targets and
release inbreds that would be more attractive
to the seed industry!