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Probe : newsletter for the USDA Plant Genome Research Program PDF

42 Pages·1994·2.9 MB·English
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Preview Probe : newsletter for the USDA Plant Genome Research Program

Historic, Archive Document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. Newsletter for the USDA Plant Genome Research Program Volume4, No. 1/2 July 1993-July 1994 USD As Office of Agricultural Biotechnology Jean A. Larson M.A. , USDA Office ofAgricultural Biotechnology, Washington, D.C. Can bioengineered organisms of agricultural importance Secretaries, and the Biotechnology Council, be released safely into the environment and the market- composed of senior agency staff. place? Will consumers' desires for labeling ofbiotech OAB has provided leadership for the development of products impact on the proposed Food and Drug -biotechnology guidelines for agricultural research; Administration's policies? What will be the impact of -scientific exchanges involving biotechnology; BST on the dairy industry? Will biotechnology technolo- -environmental assessments for transgenic fish; gies help revitalize rural America? Can this new -performance standards for research with transgenic technology be useful in preventing and detecting fish and shellfish; food safety problems? These and other questions -advice when requested by regulatory agencies; are routinely being addressed by the USDA -a biotechnology consumer information plan for Office of Agricultural Biotechnology. USDA; The Office of Agricultural Biotechnol- -coordinated responses on regulatory and ogy (OAB) was established in 1986 by a research issues to other Departments; Secretary's Memorandum 1020-27. Its -international conferences/workshops on role is to coordinate the development animal and plant biotechnology, includ- of consistent biotechnology pohcies ing three international conferences on and procedures within USDA. The Biosafety Results of Field Tests Current OAB functions include: of Genetically Modified Plants and • Under a Presidential Initiative, Microorganisms"; OAB is the USDA action office for a multi-year -staff papers and speeches for the Office of the Secretary. Federal initiative on biotechnology research. Since the implementation of the January 31, 1992, • OAB staffs a Federal advisory committee, the Presidential Initiative on Biotechnology Research, OAB Agricultural Biotechnology Research Advisory has been the action office for USDA. Twelve Federal Committee (ABRAC). This Committee pro- agencies participate in the activity. Their efforts on the vides a public forum for issues in agricultural biotechnology crosscut are coordinated by the Biotech- biotechnology. nology Research Subcommittee (BRS) of the Committee • OAB staffs the Committee on Biotechnology in on Fundamental Science and Engineering Research and Agriculture (CBA), composed of six USDA Development of the National Science and Technology Agency Administrators and two Assistant Council. As a participant, OAB has collected research program and budget data from the Agricultural Research Probe 2 Volume4, No.1/2 Service, Cooperative State Research mayinclude: management of resis- mail, through USDA's Computerized Service, Economic Research Service tance to biopesticides in crop plants; Information Delivery System, and on and the Forest Service and eight non- production of pharmaceuticals in Internet through the National Agri- USDA agencies which are involved plants and animals; use and effects of cultural Library's Gopher; provided in agriculturally related programs synthetic sequences in organisms of by the Biotechnology Information and assembled data into a consistent agricultural importance; risk man- Center. From time to time the Office format for reporting. agement and risk communications; has sponsored national and interna- The ABRAC consists of 15 and public attitudes, perceptions, tional conferences and workshops on experts from academia, industry, and acceptance of genetically engi- biotechnology topics. government, and public interest neered products. The international and trade groups with knowledge and experi- In addition to the scientific implications of agricultural biotech- ence in one or more of the following aspects of modern biotechnology, nology are ofgrowing concern to areas: recombinant DNA research in OAB clearly recognizes the public many U.S. economic planners and plants, animals, and microbes; relations dimension ofbiotechnology. policymakers. On the international ecology and environmental science; A well-informed public isbetterable front, OAB is involved in studying agricultural production practices; to participate in the decision-making research and technology transfer biological containment and field process about biotechnology. Toward programs in competing nations; release; applicable laws and regula- this end, OAB shares information with promoting international consensus on tions; standards of professional the media, participates in public the scientific principles that underlie conduct and practice; public atti- affairs activities around the country, the environmental and human safety tudes; public health/epidemiology; and contributes articles on biotechnol- ofagriculturalbiotechnology; and and occupational health and ethics. ogy to the generalas well as the working with the U.S. Trade Repre- Fifteen ABRAC members have been scientific press. The Office publishes a sentative, the Food and Drug Admin- recently appointed by the Secretary monthly newsletter. Biotechnology istration and the Foreign Agricultural of Agriculture. Notes. The newsletter highlights Service to provide information to The purpose of ABRAC is to activities on biotechnology issues at trading partners regarding U.S. food advise the Department, through the USDA and in the private sector. The safety procedures. Assistant Secretary for Science and dissemination of the newsletter is via Education, with respect to policies, programs, operations, and activities Table of Contents associated with questions of biosafety, USDA's Office ofAgricultural Biotechnology 1 the development ofguidelines and Summary ofthe 1993 Plant GenomeAwards 4 performance standards for research RBNET(Electronic Mail Networkfor Rice Biotechnologists) 7 with genetically modified organisms, New Capabilities and Connectionsfor the Plant Genome Database 9 and, in response to a specific re- Plant Genome II Conference Report 22 quest, the development of recom- Soybase News 24 mendation for the food safety The Class of1993 Plant Genome Grant Recipients 25 evaluation of transgenic livestock. A Primeron Images and the Internet 20 The most important issue that Maize Genome Database, a USDA-ARS Plant Genome Database 22 will be addressed by the new Com- Introducing Dr. Edward Kaleikau 24 mittee in the coming months will be AnnouncingPlant Genome IIIMeeting 25 to complete the development of Calendar ofUpcoming Genome Events 27 performance standards for outdoor SurveyofSynonymous Codon Usage in Nuclear Genes ofArabidopsis, Soybean andMaize .30 research with genetically modified fish Plant Genome Analysis by SingleArbitrary PrimerAmplification 32 and shellfish. Other important issues Distinctive Biology ofForest Trees Highlightedat Sixth International Meeting 37 Probe July1993-July1994 3 Agricultural Biotechnology Research Advisory Committee Probe Dr. Walter A. Hill Dr. Ronald R. Sederoff School of Agri. & Home Economics Dept, of Forestry Tuskegee University North Carolina State Univ. ISSN: 1057-2600 The official quarterly publication of Dr. Anne R. Kapuscinski Dr. James Lauderdale the USDA Plant Genome Research Dept, of Fisheries and Wildlife The Upjohn Company Program. This newsletter is aimed University of Minnesota at facilitating interaction throughout the plant genome mapping commu- Dr. Pamela G. Marrone Dr. Susan Harlander nity and beyond. Entotech, Inc. Director, Dairy Foods Probe is a publication of the Plant Land O'Lakes, Inc. Genome Data and Information Center, National Agricultural Dr. Deborah K. Letourneau Dr. Stanley Pierce Library. Board of Environmental Studies Rivkin, Radler, Bayh, Hart, & Managing Editor Univ. of California Kremer Susan McCarthy, Ph.D. Editor Dr. Rudy Wodzinski Dr. Fernando Osorio Joanne Meil Dept, of Molecular Biology and Department of Veterinary Production Manager Microbiology Biomedical Sciences Terrance Henrichs Univ. of Central Florida Univ. of Nebraska Layout andDesign Dr. Roy Fuchs Dr. H. Alan Wood Terrance Henrichs Monsanto Agricultural Company Boyce Thompson Inst, for Plant Special Thanks to: Research Barbara Buchanan Andrew Kalinski Stephanie MeGee Dr. James Tiedje Dr. Walter Reid Marcia Norfleet NSF Center for Microbial Ecology World Resources Institute Michigan State Univ. Articles, announcements, and suggestions are welcome. Correspondence Address Dr. Paul Thompson Susan McCarthy, Ph.D. Center for Biotechnology Policy and Ethics NAL, 4th Floor Texas A&M Univ. 10301 Baltimore Blvd MD Beltsville, 20705 Phone:(301)504-6613 Minutesfrom ABRAC meetingare published andavailablefrom the OAB on request. FAX: (301)504-7098 _ (703) 235-4419 email: [email protected] Needless to say, the OAB transfer, regulations, environmental USDA Program Office program is a very dynamic office that impact, economics, public relations, and Dr. Jerome Miksche maintains timely responsiveness to the international affairs havebeen supplied USDA/ARS/NPS/PNRS ever-changingbiotechnology scene. to OAB by cooperating agencies. At the Room 331C, Bldg 005 BARC-WEST All the above activities are done completion oftheir assignments, says MD Beltsville, 20705 with a small core ofpermanent staff, Young, "these individuals take their Phone:(301)504-6029 but OAB DirectorDr. Alvin Young newbiotechnologyknowledge and FAX: (301)504-6231 says that "much of my staffworkis experience with them backto their doneby individuals on temporary agencies and everyone benefits." assignment to OAB from other USDA For additional information or to agencies." Specialists in agricultural request OAB published materials, NationalAgriculturalLibrary OAB research, extension/technology contact the at (703) 235-4419. Probe Volume4, No.1/2 $ CompetitiveEdge Summary Genome of the 1993 Plant Awards Dr. Ed Kaleikau, Program Director National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program USDA Cooperative State Research Service, DC Washington, 20250 Table 1 n 1993, Congress appropri- SPECIES REPRESENTED BY PLANT GENOME AWARDS 1993 7 ated $97.5 million for the NUMBER OF DOLLAR National Research Initiative SPECIES AWARDS AMOUNT Competitive Grants Pro- gram (NRICGP), of which $12.1 Agrobacterium 2 250,000 million was made available for plant Alfalfa 2 220,000 genome research. The Plants Divi- Apple 1 276,000 Arnbidopsis 8 539,000 sion of the NRICGP in USDA's Barley 5 961,000 Cooperative State Research Service Bean 2 370,000 administers the plant genome Blueberry 1 118,422 Brassica 4 262,000 grants. In addition to the NRICGP Cotton 2 299,013 allocation, $3.67 million was appro- Douglas Fir 1 223,000 priated to USDA's Agricultural Lettuce 1 200,000 Maize 20 2,405,700 Research Service (ARS) for program Millet 1 120,000 management, setting targets for Mungbean 1 115,000 genome mapping research, and Oats 2 300,000 database development for agricul- Peach 1 200,000 Peanut 2 262,000 turally important plants. After Petunia 2 211,000 program administration costs, the Pine 3 453,000 net amount available for all plant Poplar 1 120,000 Potato 2 190,000 genome research totalled $15.1 Rice 3 570,000 million: $3.0 million for the ARS Sorghum 4 297,200 and $12.1 million for the NRICGP. Soybean 3 500,000 Tobacco 11 1,392,400 Mission-oriented research proposals Tomato 7 846,900 that address the goal of improving Wheat 6 1,145,200 agronomic qualities through ge- Wild Rice i 40,000 nomic research were submitted to the NRICGP by scientists from the Totals 91 12,126,238 research community. Each proposal ARSG.A.Smith,J Miksche was peer-reviewed by experts in the area of genomic research and was * Summations ofaward numbers and dollar amounts do not sum to the actual values presented because some ofthe awards Continuedpage7 utilized more than one species. Probe July1993-July1994 5 Table 2 GENE SYSTEMS OF TRAITS, NRI PLANT GENOME GRANTS, 1993 AC/DC transposons Anthocyanin biosynthesis AC/Ds mutagenesis and integration Aphid resistance Alcohol dehydrogenase Blight resistance Amylase activation Endodormancy chilling requirement Apomixis Ethylene biosynthesis Bacterial blight resistance Fertility Ca+ Modulated leaf receptor protein Fiber quality Cytokinin response Fruit quality Disease resistance Hessian fly resistance Drought tolerance Inflorescence development Floral homeotic genes and sterility Kernel starch Flowering Kernel sucrose metabolism Gene targeting for excision of foreign DNA Leaf epidermal growth Lipid desaturation Mildew resistance mRNA Mitochondria protein synthesis stability Phytochrome A mRNA degradation Nematode resistance N Plasmid directed conjugation Nodulation and fixation Polyamines and stress tolerance Phaseolin and seed protein QTLs for wood quality Photorespiration QTLs for yield Plastid light response Ribosomal protein synthesis Rust resistance Rust resistance Seed oil synthesis Seed maturation Self incompatibility Stable transformation Ubiquitin ligation Starch synthesis Vigor and plant morphology Targeted DNA integration Virulence genes Trichomes and insect resistance Virus resistance T-DNA transport and integration Wood specific gravity Probe 6 Volume4, No.1/2 Table 3 GENETIC PHENOMENA NRI PLANT GENOME GRANTS 1993 DESCRIPTION SPECIES Amylaseactivation&repression Barley,Maize Annualgrowthrate Douglasfir Anthocyaninbiosynthesis Maize Apomixis,asexualreproduction Pearlmillet Cellgrowth Tobacco Chromosomerecombination Wheat Chromosomesortinglibraries Tomato Cloningdiseaseresistancegenes Rice Cytokininresponse Arabidopsis Developmentalregulation Tomato,Tobacco Droughttolerance Grainsorghum Edthylenebiosynthesis Tomato Endodormancy&chillingrequirement Blueberry Geneeffectsonchromatinstructure Maize Genetaggingforinsectresistance Maize Geneticengineeredsterility Poplar Gene/chromosomeidentification Wheat Homologousrecombination Arabidopsis Homozygousdeletionstocks Wheat Hormonalcontrolofseedmaturation Tobacco Inflouresencedevelopment,flowering Maize,Tobacco Lipiddesaturation Peanut Mappingcold,diseaseresistance Peach mRNAstabilityindicots Tobacco Mutationvia transposableelements Tomato Nodulation&Nfixation Bean,Medicago NucleartargetingofDNA Agrobacterium Nuclear&organelleDNAvariation Barley Nuclear-plastidcommunication Tobacco Photorespiration,nitrogenassimilation Ambidopsis PhytochromeA,mRNAdegradation Oats Plasmiddirectedconjugation Agrobacterium Phytochromegenecontrol Tomato,Rice,Sorghum Repeatinducedgenesilencing Arabidopsis RNAediting Petunia Seedoilsynthesis Maize,Brassica Selfincompatibility Brassica Sequencerepeats,microsatellites Soybean Sitedirectedmutagenesis Maize Spatialorganizationofgenome Maize,Sorghum Starchmetabolism&transport Maize Tandemrepeatsequences Rice TargetedDNAintegration Tobacco Transformationdiseaseresistance Potato Transformationdroughttolerance Pine Transformationinsectresistance Tomato Transformationvirusresistance Peanut Transposableelements Maize Transposontagging Maize T-DNAtransfer,andtransport Tobacco,Maize Ubiquitinactivatingenzymes Arabidopsis Woundinducibleinsectresistance Tobacco Probe July1993-July1994 Awards—Continuedfrompage4 made in two programs in the Ninety-one awardswere made to judged on its scientific and technical NRICGP Plant Division: the Plant scientists from 34 States (See article, merit, qualifications of proposed Genome Program and the Plant "The Class of 1993 Plant Genome personnel, and relevance to Genetic MechanismsProgram. A small Grant Recipients" in this issue). sustainability and stated research portion offundsalsosupported Nineteen agronomic, horticul- objectives in the solicitation for proposals. genome-related research inother tural, and forest tree species are In 1993, the majority of plant progamsofNRICGP. Research projects undergoing genetic and physical genome funds supported awards beingsupportedinFY1993aresumma- mapping procedures (Table 1). Fifty- six genes and gene systems are being rizedin tireaccompanyingtables. Table 4 studied (Table 2), as well as genetic phenomena in various plant species TECHNIQUE DEVELOPMENT NRI PLANT GENOME GRANTS, 1993 (Table 3). Many new molecular techniques are being pursued (Table Antibody synthesis for proline DNA 4). The data were supplied by the Biolistic transformation with high molecular weight NRICGP staff, and compiled into Chromosome painting Construction and insertion of chimeric gene tables by Dr. G.S. Smith and Dr. J.P. Miksche in ARS. Develop target probes for fly resistance DNA vector synthesis Functional cloning of disease resistant genes Identification of effective sterility genes Isolate nuclear skeletal structures Plant Genome Map based cloning system for Rice Grant DNA Megabase isolation Molecular probe and reagent development Deadline Dates Regeneration after transformation for Pine Announced Substrate features required for enzyme activation Transfer teosinte chromosomes to maize Transformation system for Peanut See page 8 Transposon tagging in this issue Wound induced transformation Offthe Wire RBNET Mail Network (Electronic for Rice Biotechnologists) For those colleagues in coun- tries where electronic mail service is not currently available, attempts are With support from the Rockefeller ogy Center, 1060 Carmack Road, being made to deliver a message by Foundation, an electronic mail Columbus, Ohio 43210 USA. To network has been established to address all users of the networkyou fax. If any one ofyou are in this situation and wish to communicate increase communication among the may send a message to: to the RBNET users, you may fax international rice biotechnology [email protected]. To community. This network (RBNET) add your name to the RBNET your message to the attention of Professor Verma at (614) 292-5379 is being managed by Professor mailing list, please send your E-Mail and your message will be posted on Verma at the Ohio State Biotechnol- address to: the RBNET for distribution. [email protected]. Probe Volume4, No.1/2 NRI 1995 Grant Deadlines Postmarked Program Program Contacts Dates Codes Areas (202) November 14, 1994 31.0 Improving Human NutritionforOptimalHealth 205-0250 52.1 PlantGenome 401-1901 52.2 Plant GeneticMechanisms 401-5042 November21, 1994 22.1 Plant Responsestothe Environment 401-4871 December5, 1994 51.1 Plant Pathology 401-4310 54.1 Photosynthesisand Respiration 401-6030 December 12, 1994 25.0 SoilsandSoil Biology 401-4082 December 19, 1994 26.0 Water ResourcesAssessment and Protection 401-4504 51.5 BiologicalControl Research 401-5114 January 9, 1995 51.2 Entomology 401-5114 51.3 Nematology 401-5114 51.4 Weed Science 401-4310 44.0 Sustaining Animal Healthand Well-Being 401-6303 January 17, 1995 71.1 FoodCharacterization/Process/Product Research 401-1952 71.2 Non-Food Characterization/Process/Product Research 401-1952 72.0 Biofuels Research 401-1952 41.0 EnhancingAnimal Reproductive Efficiency 401-6234 January23, 1995 23.0 Forest/Range/Crop/Aquatic Ecosystems 401-4082 53.0 PlantGrowth and Development 401-5042 January30, 1995 32.0 Ensuring Food Safety 401-4399 51.6 Assessing Pest Control Strategies 401-5114 100 Agricultural Systems 401-1901 401-6303 February 6, 1995 54.2 Nitrogen Fixation/Nitrogen Metabolism 401-6030 61.0 MarketsandTrade 401-3487 62.0 Rural Development 401-3487 February 13, 1995 73.0 Improved UtilizationofWood and Wood Fiber 401-4871 February21, 1995 42.0 Improving Animal Growthand Development 205-0250 43.0 Identifying Animal Genetic Mechanismsand Gene 401-4399 Mapping February27, 1995 80.1 Research Career Enhancement Awards 401-6234 80.2 EquipmentGrants 401-6234 80.3 Seed Grants 401-6234 The 1995 program solicitation and and the NRICGP application kit. All Genome Grants Program, application kit will be available in others may request copies from: contact: September. Please note that potential National Research Initiative Com- Dr. Ed Kaleikau applicants who are on the competi- petitive Grants Program (NRICGP) Program Director tive research grants mailing list, who c/o Proposal Services Branch NRICGP/CSRS/USDA sent in applications in fiscal year AMD/CSRS/USDA AG Box 2241 1994, or who recently requested AG Box 2245 Washington, DC 20250-2241 placement on the list for fiscal year Washington, DC 20250-2245 Telephone: (202) 401-1901 1995 will automatically receive Telephone: (202) 401-5048 copies of the program solicitation For more information about the Plant

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