Project Number: 5358-21000-032-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Apr 10, 2003
End Date: Feb 29, 2008

Objective:
Investigate genetic and physiological factors affecting seed quality and optimum production for forage and turf-grasses, small-seeded legumes, and wheat. Investigate mechanisms of abiotic stress resistance, especially heat stress, during seed filling and manipulate physiological processes to stabilize yield, reduce cropping risk, and produce unique germplasm with extended seed filling periods. Investigate mechanisms that regulate flowering in grasses and manipulate flowering to improve forage quality. Identify the potential and actual rate of transgene movement from forage grasses grown for seed production that are genetically engineered for herbicide tolerance. Describe longer-term genotypic and phenotypic changes in populations that are at risk for incorporating herbicide-tolerance genes. Devise genetic strategies to reduce or eliminate introgression of herbicide tolerance genes. Quantify gene flow from genetically engineered outcrossing grasses to related and non-related species and the stability of genes in the recipient genomes through multiple generations, with special attention to comparisons with the background gene flow and gene stability (i.e., of non-transgenic genes present in the source material). Characterize the molecular factors that affect the stability of transgenes within outcrossing grass populations, again with a special emphasis on differences between transgenes and native genes, if any. Quantify the longevity and viability of transgenic and non-transgenic grass pollen under contrasting environmental conditions, especially environmental extremes commonly encountered during flowering of grass seed crops. Elucidate the molecular and genetic factors that condition these responses.

Approach:
Conduct complex basic and applied research that solves problems related to sustainable forage and turf seed cropping systems which include grass, wheat and small-seeded legume production. Traditional breeding and molecular genetics will be used to identify the genetic basis for desirable phenotypes, factors that impact seed quality, flowering and abiotic stress tolerance. Develop molecular and traditional approaches for integrating genetic diversity that is useful for altering plant developmental pathways and plant structures, and enhancing forage quality in end-use environments that differ from the seed-producing region. Formerly 5358-21000-012-00D and 5358-21000-018-00D(2/01), 5358-21000-028-00D. FY03 Program Increase $100,592. FY04 Program Increase $120,784. Add 1 SY.

Project Team

Banowetz, Gary Barker, Reed Pfender, William Dombrowski, James

Project Annual Reports

FY 2003