Craig Yencho

Award will fund 6 individual projects related to Guava Root-Knot Nematode: a)Renovation of Method Road Nematology Laboratory and Greenhouse Range facilities for work with the Guava Root-Knot Nematode (Meloidogyne enterolobii) b)Research Towards a Rapid, Species-specific, Field Deployable Test for GRKN and Advancement of Molecular Diagnostics for Soil and Sweetpotato Samples c)Evaluating Integrated Use of Fumigants, Nematicides, and Rotational Crops for Management of GRKN in Sweetpotato in the Field, Storage, and Pack House d)On-Farm Crop Rotation and Cover Crop Evaluations, and Sweetpotato Clone Evaluations to Manage Guava Root-Knot Nematode d)Breeding Resistance to GRKN and SRKN into a New Generation of High Quality, Marketable Sweetpotato Cultivars for NC Growers e)Guava Root-Knot Nematode: A County Operations Action Plan

A Pipeline of a Resilient Workforce that integrates Advanced Analytics to the Agriculture, Food and Energy Supply Chain

We propose to deploy genomic and phenomic tools as an integrated approach for the development of superior sweetpotato varieties with robust resistance to M. enterolobii and M. incognita, and high storage root yield, shape and quality attributes that command a high market value. Beyond identifying the genetic components underpinning these traits, a breeding approach that accounts for the complex genetics of polyploidy (e.g. allele dose-dependent phenotypes) will be designed for combining multiple desirable traits in a single genetic background (i.e. multi-trait selection). This is particularly important in sweetpotato where a single important trait can break an otherwise remarkable variety. Resistance to GRKN and SRKNwill be studied within the context of a holistic nematode management strategy that maximizes economic and farm sustainability

The implementation of genomics-assisted breeding techniques in polyploid specialty crops is significantly delayed compared to diploid species. The development of new tools, user friendly interfaces and training materials are needed by polyploid crop breeders to accelerate genetic gain for key traits of importance and meet the needs of growers and consumers. Polyploid specialty crops contribute significantly to food production in the US and throughout the world. The list of polyploid specialty crops used for food includes roots and tubers (potato, sweet potato), fruit (strawberry, blackberry, blueberry, European plum, tart cherry, kiwi, persimmon, banana), vegetables (leek, watermelon), and other uses (coffee, basil, hops). The annual value of these crops in the US is about $9.5 billion and many times greater on a global scale. The production and use of polyploid food crops contributes substantially to the nutritional welfare and employment of millions of people. In addition to food crops, polyploid species are used as ornamentals (rose, chrysanthemum, lily, orchids, lantana) and for turfgrass (ryegrass, bentgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, bermudagrass, zoysia). The turfgrass and ornamental production sectors produce about 1/3 the value of all specialty crop production and 15% of agricultural production in the USA. This $16.7 billion industry employs about two million people and delivers an economic impact of at least $136 billion. The turfgrass and ornamentals used in home, private and public landscapes significantly impact human health and urban ecology. These plants enhance air and water quality, sequester carbon, reduce runoff and erosion, provide energy savings in heating and cooling, facilitate rain capture and storm water management, reduce noise and dust pollution, and promote wildlife habitat. In addition, they increase property values and psychological wellbeing. The production of food crops and the production and maintenance of turfgrass and ornamentals requires substantial resources (agricultural chemicals, fertilizers, and water). Given the increased scarcity of water and concern over the environmental contamination of agrochemicals, it is essential to move towards more sustainable production and landscape systems. A major component of these future more sustainable systems will be new cultivars with improved yield, quality and environmental resilience. Objective 1. The software developed will meet the five needs identified during the planning grant: (a) multi-SNP haplotype discovery and population genotyping using next-generation sequencing; (b) linkage mapping with multi-allelic markers and genotype quality scores; (c) GWAS and genomic selection in mixed ploidy populations and with multi-allelic markers; (d) QTL mapping in interconnected F1 populations; (e) fine mapping, haplotype visualization, and efficient assembly of QTL alleles across multiple loci. Objective 2. Software will be developed so the user can explore different designs for genetic mapping projects or breeding programs. Simulation options will include the mating design, genome size, meiotic properties, population size, and costs for genotyping and phenotyping. Objective 3. Complete documentation of the syntax and options for each software will be created, as well as example datasets and corresponding workflows. These training materials will be publicly available through a Polyploid Community Resource web page that will be developed and hosted by Washington State University. Graphical user interfaces will be developed for the command-line software developed in Objectives 1 and 2 and made available through the website. Hands-on workshops will be created to showcase the new software and train the polyploid breeding community about polyploid genetics and the use of the analytical toolset. Objective 4. Research projects involving the new computational tools are planned for six polyploid crops representing a range of ploidy levels, preferential pairing propensity, interspecific diversity among breeding germplasm, and genomic data/r

Banana, cassava, potato, sweetpotato and yam (collectively referred to as roots, tubers, and bananas or RTB crops hereafter) are major contributors to poverty alleviation and food and nutrition security in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). RTB crops provide nearly 50% of total caloric intake in D.R. Congo, Ghana, Tanzania and Rwanda, 30% in Uganda, and 25% in Africa's most populated country, Nigeria. Moreover, given their role to buffer local food systems against external shocks such as conflicts disrupting global commodity supply chains, climate change, and the forecasted population growth, unprecedent domestic production and value of production growth is forecasted for these crops. To deliver nutritious, affordable RTB foods, and supplies for processors in SSA, this two-year project initiation proposal represents the first phase towards establishing a longer-term plan for an 11-year-long, multi-donor driven portfolio of investments in the genetic improvement of RTB crops. Our overarching purpose is to contribute, through the development of market-preferred, gender-sensitive and climate-resilient varieties, to poverty alleviation, food and nutrition security and overall quality of life of smallholder farmers, processors, and consumers in rural and urban areas. This project will contribute to all the One CGIAR���s Genetic Innovation impact areas, namely: nutrition, health, and food security; poverty reduction, livelihoods, and jobs; gender equality, youth, and social inclusion; climate adaptation and mitigation; and environmental health and biodiversity. We aim to achieve this by implementing state-of-the-art, streamlined breeding approaches, and the market-preferred varieties to be developed are expected to command increased adoption rates and to quickly replace the older varieties and landraces that are currently in use. NC State partner with the One CGIAR to build upon capacities in African countries as well as those within One CGIAR that were developed through extensive prior BMGF breeding investments such as Breeding Better Bananas, GT4SP (NCSU led), NextGen Cassava, RTBFoods, SASHA (NCSU partner), SweetGAINS (NCSU partner), Africa Yam and Excellence in Breeding. Moreover, we will build upon assets, infrastructure and human talent posted at several One CGIAR centers and national and international programs in SSA countries, research, development and extension programs, and advanced research institutions.

This proposal is to request continuing support for the North Carolina potato breeding and variety development program. Funds are requested to: 1) continue in-house and collaborative potato breeding and variety development projects with the USDA/ARS, University of Maine and Cornell University potato breeding programs; and 2) conduct the NE-1014 Regional Potato Variety Development Trials and the NC Potato Variety Trials. These projects are focused on developing improved varieties for NC potato growers.

Meloidogyne enterolobii (syn. M. mayaguensis), commonly known as the Guava Root Knot Nematode (GRKN), is a newly introduced root-knot nematode (RKN) that is highly virulent against widely-used RKN resistant crop varieties. M. enterolobii has been reported in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Louisiana. In North Carolina, it has been detected in fields in Columbus, Johnston, Wayne and Wilson counties. These counties are located in the sweetpotato growing belt in North Carolina and significant damage to sweetpotato production can be caused by GRKN. Resistant sweetpotato varieties need to be developed to help NC sweetpotato growers to win the battle against M. enterolobii. In this research project, we are going to: 1) develop an efficient screening protocol for selection of GRKN-resistant sweetpotato clones from breeding populations; 2) conduct studies to identify DNA markers for M. enterolobii resistance in sweetpotato by screening a genetic mapping population from Tanzania x Beauregard with known resistance to GRKN derive from the African land race cultivar Tanzania; 3) initiate preliminary work to establish DNA marker-assisted selection for GRKN-resistant sweetpotato clones.

Meloidogyne enterolobii (syn. M. mayaguensis), commonly known as the Guava Root Knot Nematode (GRKN), is a newly introduced root-knot nematode (RKN) that is highly virulent against widely-used RKN resistant crop varieties. M. enterolobii has been reported in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Louisiana. In North Carolina, it has been detected in fields in Columbus, Johnston, Wayne and Wilson counties. These counties are located in the sweetpotato growing belt in North Carolina and significant damage to sweetpotato production can be caused by GRKN. Resistant sweetpotato varieties need to be developed to help NC sweetpotato growers to win the battle against M. enterolobii. In this research project, we are going to: 1) develop an efficient screening protocol for selection of GRKN-resistant sweetpotato clones from breeding populations; 2) conduct studies to identify DNA markers for M. enterolobii resistance in sweetpotato by screening a genetic mapping population from Tanzania x Beauregard with known resistance to GRKN derive from the African land race cultivar Tanzania; 3) initiate preliminary work to establish DNA marker-assisted selection for GRKN-resistant sweetpotato clones.

Inconsistent quality and aesthetics in agricultural crops can result in increased consumer and producer food waste, reduced industry resiliency and decreased farmers������������������ and growers������������������ profit, poor consumer satisfaction, and inefficiencies across the supply chain. Although there are opportunities to characterize and quantify sources of phenotypic variability across the agricultural supply chain - from cultural practices of growers and producers to storage and handling by distributors - the data available to allow for assessment of horticultural quality drivers are disparate and disconnected. The absence of data integration platforms that link heterogeneous datasets across the supply chain precludes the development of strategies and solutions to constrain variability in produce quality. This project������������������s central hypothesis is that multi-dimensional produce data can be securely integrated and used to optimize management practices in the field while simultaneously adding value across the entire food supply chain. We propose to develop multi-modal sensing platform along with a trust-based, data management, integration, and analytics framework for systematic organization and dynamic abstraction of heterogeneous data across the supply chain of agricultural crops. The projects short term goals are to (1) engage growers to refine research and extension priorities; (2) develop a first-of-its-kind modular imaging system that responds to grower needs by analyzing existing and novel multi-dimensional data; (3) establish the cyberinfrastructure, including analytics and blockchain, to make meaningful inference of the acquired data as related to management practices while ensuring data security; (4) deploy the sensing system at NCSU������������������s Horticultural Crops Research Station in Clinton, NC and on a large-scale system at a major commercial farm and distribution facility, and (5) extend findings to producers and regulators through NC Cooperative Extension. The proposed sensing and cyberinfrastructure platforms will be crop-agnostic and our findings will be transferable to other horticultural crops produced in NC and beyond.

This proposal is being submitted as component of a regional breeding and variety evaluation effort designed to address the needs of potato growers and allied industry members located in the Eastern US. It is collaborative project, building on existing strengths and resources of the potato breeding community in the eastern US. It facilitates pooling of regional resources and promotes increased communication within the potato variety development community located in the northeast, mid-Atlantic and southeast. Successful completion of the project goals will: 1) improve potato productivity and quality for important eastern U.S. markets by developing and releasing superior potato varieties using conventional and marker-assisted potato breeding methods; 2) reduce the impact of economically important biotic and abiotic potato production constraints in the eastern U.S. by breeding and developing improved potato germplasm and varieties; 3) select widely-adapted potato varieties by screening yield, quality, and pest resistance traits at multiple eastern locations; 4) facilitate commercial adoption of improved new varieties by coordinating initial commercial trials and by developing management recommendations; and 5) enhance the availability and use of project-related, research-based information and improved potato germplasm through the use of digital media. All of this will contribute to the development of a more economically and ecologically sustainable potato production system in the mid-Atlantic and SE US.