Exotic Germplasm –
A Commercial Perspective
GEM Cooperator Meeting
Jerry Rice
Dec. 7, 2005
Exotic Germplasm =
Unadapted Germplasm
[i.e. South American Germplasm
 into North America]
Exotic Germplasm / Other Crops:
Cotton:
G. harknesii
cms & Restorer Genes
(hybrid cotton)
Grain Sorghum: World Collection (PI)
Greenbug Biotype Resistance
Importance of Exotic Germplasm in Breeding
Disease Tolerance
Insect Tolerance
Increased Genetic Diversity
Increased Yield
Enhanced Stability across Environments
Specialty Traits
Exotic Germplasm / Challenges:
Difficult to evaluate
Photoperiod Sensitivity unattractive phenotype
Tall plants with high ear placement
Standability Issues  generally have weak roots
High Harvest Moisture  generally later maturity
Tight husks and slow dry-down
Requires more Resources
Larger Popn size and more segregates to evaluate
Long Term Investment (success in 2nd to 3rd Gen.)
Exotic Germplasm Breeding:
Importance of Exotic Germplasm in Breeding
Disease Tolerance
Insect Tolerance
Increased Genetic Diversity
Increased Yield
Enhanced Stability across Environments
Specialty Traits
Previous Experience / Cargill Hybrid Seeds:
Brazil *
Argentina *
Mexico
South Africa **
Thailand
Italy
* Research Liaison
** Tech. Advisor
Philippines
China
France
Germany
Pakistan
Current DAS / Mycogen Seeds:
Argentina
Brazil
Mexico
Philippines
Germplasm Pools / Opportunities:
USA
Stiff Stalks
Non-Stiff Stalks
Iodents
Other
International Programs:
Tuxpeno
Tuson
ETO
Cateto
Caribbean
Suwan
Exotic Germplasm with International Program
Shuttle Breeding Opportunities
Introgression Breeding Projects
Exchange Elite Inbreds
All Possibilities (all countries – within & between)
Observation
Evaluation
Shuttle Breeding -- Example:
USA
Brazil
USA
initiation of Trop (Brz)/Temp SSS Popn
recycle (3) popn (earliness & dis. tol.)
advance, select, & testcross (350 2)
multiple testers  med. yield / not adv.
Brazil
multiple testers  med. yield / not adv.
Argentina multiple testers  med. yield / not adv.
S. Africa multiple testers  high yield, GCA,
Primary Tester for yellow program
Inbred Exchange / Opportunities:
USA
Obs. elite lines from Brazil
Impressive plant health
Impressive GLS tolerance
Argentina Obs. elite lines from all countries
Complementary gene action / MRCV tol.
Impressive MRCV tolerance
Brazil
Obs. elite lines from USA
Earliness with sufficient plant health
Introgression Projects:
2005 Data
Yield %H2O
MycoSSS(12.5%Brz)S3/TS-A
MycoSSS(12.5%Brz)S3/TS-B
212
206
20.0
19.4
Commercial Hybrid Check #1
Commercial Hybrid Check #2
201
216
19.6
20.1
Introgression Projects:
2005 Data:
Yield %H2O
TS-C/ MycoNSS(25%Brz)S4
205
19.3
Commercial Hybrid Check #1
207
19.6
Introgression Projects:
2005 Data:
Yield %H2O
TS-C/ MycoNSS(50%Arg)S2A 217
TS-C/ MycoNSS(50%Arg)S2B 213
20.0
22.3
Commercial Hybrid Check #1
19.8
203
Introgression Projects:
2005 Data:
Yield %H2O
TS-C/ MycoNSS(50%Brz)S1A 205
Best Commercial Check
190
19.5
19.4
TS-E/ MycoNSS(25%Brz)S1B 216
Best Commercial Check
197
19.2
20.3
Importance of Exotic Germplasm in Breeding
Disease Tolerance
Insect Tolerance
Increased Yield (Grain and/or Silage)
Enhanced Stability across Environments
Specialty Traits
Kernel Composition (starch, AA, oil, etc.)
Kernel Quality (food corn milling)
Others
AN EXCELLENT SOURCE OF
EXOTIC GERMPASM 
GERMPLASM ENHANCEMENT OF
MAIZE (GEM) PROGRAM !!!
GEM Mission: Increase Genetic Diversity
Introgression of Exotic Germplasm into
Temperate Germplasm utilizing:
LAMP Accessions (Exotic Sources)
Evaluated for Yield and Adaptation
Elite Temperate Germplasm
Via Germplasm Contributions from GEM Cooperators
GEM Exotic Sources / Available:
GEM Cooperator’s have the following types of Exotic
Germplasm available from the base GEM Program:
Populations (F2’s and BC’s)
S1’s
S2’s
GEM Releases (S4’s+)
Why use GEM Exotic Sources:
Solid Germplasm Backgrounds
Pre-Evaluated LAMP Accessions
Elite Temperate Germplasm (GEM Cooperators)
NO “Strings Attached” for GEM Cooperators
No Royalties
No Breeding Restrictions
Incorporation directly into your Breeding Program
Uses of GEM Exotic Sources:
Fold Early Gen. (S1’s & S2’s) into your program
GEM Popn X Proprietary Lines  Popn
Proprietary Popn X GEM Releases  Popn
Proprietary Line X GEM Release  Popn
Others
GEM Popn / Myco Projects:
2005 Data:
Yield %H2O
TS-A// GEMBR51403…/Myco 196
TS-B// GEMBR51403…/Myco 191
GEM/Cuba164…/Myco// TS-C 192
19.1
19.9
19.1
Commercial Hybrid Check
19.3
193
GEM Popn / Myco Projects:
Improvements:
GEMBR51403…/Myco
Improved Plant Health
Increased K-rows on ear
Improved Grain Texture (harder texture)
GEMCuba164…/Myco
Improved Grain Texture
(Tall plant with high ear placement)
GEMBR51403…/Myco
GEMCuba164…/Myco
University of Wisconsin / J.G. Coors, D.T. Eilert,
& P.J. Flannery / 2004 GEM Report:
2004 Silage Data Means
ARZM17026:N1019
65008-2-3-1-2 X LH227
65008-2-3-1-3 X LH227
Mean of 4 Checks
%
t/a
Dry Matter
Yield
44.6
43.4
9.91
9.44
41.3
8.55
University of Delaware / J.A. Hawk & T. Weldekidan /
2004 GEM Report:
2004 Data:
Yield %H2O
Pioneer 31G98
PioSSS/DK212T:N11a10)-107-2
PioSSS/DK212T:N11a10)-156-1
Pioneer 33B51
Pioneer 34H31
223
216
212
211
200
22.5
22.7
22.6
21.9
20.5
USDA-ARS / P. Scott & M. Blanco
GEM Report:
AA Index of DKXL212:N11a-139-1-1-B-B-B
Top Ranked sample in the AA indexing ranking
study (Met + Trp + Lys + 0.5 Thr) outperforming
the high ranking checks
Line has an unusually well balance AA content
2004
Importance of Exotic Germplasm in Breeding
Disease Tolerance
Insect Tolerance
Increased Yield (Grain and/or Silage)
Enhanced Stability across Environments
Specialty Traits
Kernel Composition (starch, AA, oil, etc.)
Kernel Quality (food corn milling)
Others
Exotic Germplasm –
A Commercial Perspective
Thank you for your Attention
and for your Interest!!