Sunburst, a new ornamental sunflower, is the 600,000th plant to enter the gene banks of the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS). This network of federal, state and private organizations and people work to preserve genetic diversity of agricultural and horticultural crops and their wild relatives. Sunburst also is valuable for breeding new oil-producing sunflower hybrids for farmers. The plants grow about 36 inches high and produce profuse yellow flowers. The main flower head is about 4 inches in diameter with branches producing several heads about 2 to 3 inches in diameter. Sunburst was developed by ARS researchers in Fargo, ND, in cooperation with the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. Sunflowers are the most valuable native plants grown as a food crop in the U.S. In 1997, 2.9 million acres of U.S. sunflowers produced 3.76 billion pounds of seed and 1.05 billion pounds of oil. Limited quantities of Sunburst seed are available through the NPGS and the ARS laboratory in Fargo.
National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, MD
Maryann Loftus, (301) 504-5020, mloftus@ars- grin.gov
Northern Crop Science Laboratory, Fargo, ND
Jerry F. Miller, (701) 239-1321, millerjf@fargo.ars.usda.gov

The latest laboratory techniques in plant breeding are being used to cross wild South American petunia plants with North American standard varieties. Some of the offspring may one day emerge as new varieties with flower colors not seen in today's petunias, such as fire-engine red and pastel. The new petunias would also offer alternatives to the strong scent and hairy leaves of current varieties. ARS researchers are monitoring results of 200 different crosses. Traditional petunia breeding is hampered because genes for unwanted traits--like hairiness--reside next to desirable ones. Instead, ARS researchers use genetic analysis to pinpoint potential petunia "bloodlines." They're using germplasm obtained by a breeder who traveled to South America in search of petunia specimens with new or rare traits. Brazil's mountains yielded cold-tolerant petunias growing in the snow. A giant petunia shrub with big milky blossoms came from Ecuador. Other imports include a new drought-tolerant, smooth-leaved petunia species gracing the beaches of the Torres Coast in Brazil.
Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit, U.S. National Arboretum, Beltsville, MD
Robert J. Griesbach, (301) 504-6574, rgriesbac@asrr.arsusda.gov

Siskiyou blackberry plants, newly named and released from ARS in cooperation with Oregon State University, yield sweet, shiny, pleasantly firm berries. Siskiyou ripens early in the fresh-market season, from about mid-June through the third week of July. The berries are large, averaging approximately 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 inches long and about 1 inch in diameter. That makes them nearly as big as the jumbo "Black Butte" blackberry recently released by the same researchers. Vigorous and disease-resistant, Siskiyou is intended for commercial growers, pick-your-own operators and backyard gardeners. Berry farmers who planted Siskiyou when it was known only by its research designation, ORUS 830-4, already command a premium price in the early-season fresh market for the flavorful fruit. Siskiyou resulted from more than a decade of research trials. It does well in California, Oregon, Washington, and Canada's province of British Columbia. And, based on its good performance in research plantings in North Carolina, scientists say it is worth testing in other southeastern states. Siskiyou rated "very good" in standard food-processing tests that pureed, juiced or individually quick-froze the berries. Fresh blackberries are low in calories, contain only a trace of sodium, and are cholesterol-free. They are high in fiber and vitamin C and are a source of potassium and the B-vitamin folate. The Oregon Raspberry and Blackberry Commission helped fund the research.
Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory, Corvallis, OR
Chad E. Finn, (541) 750-8760, finnc@bcc.orst.edu

Southeastern nurserymen can "swing" to the tune of 'Biloxi,' a new southern highbush blueberry cultivar. Developed by ARS scientists, Biloxi's fruit is medium in size, has good color, flavor and firmness, and has small picking scars. It blooms and ripens a few days earlier than Jubilee, a popular ARS-developed commercial variety. That early ripening boosts Biloxi's market price, though growers should take precautions against late spring freezes. In field plantings, ARS researchers have not observed any virus symptoms on this cultivar. ARS scientists recommend growers plant Biloxi in areas where southern highbush blueberries are successfully grown, mainly in the U.S. Gulf coast region. The new cultivar may contribute to the lucrative $31 million-a- year southeastern blueberry industry. Nurserymen who want rooted cuttings should contact ARS' Small Fruit Research Station in Poplarville, MS. Plant material will be deposited in the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System for further research development and commercialization of new cultivars.
Small Fruit Research Station, Poplarville, MS
James M. Spiers/Creighton L. Gupton, (601) 795-8751, spiersj@ars.usda.gov/guptonc@ars.usda.gov

Two strawberry varieties that bear sweet, juicy, bright-red fruit by the Fourth of July have now been officially named "Firecracker" and "Independence." ARS scientists, in cooperation with Oregon State University and Washington State University, released these top-performing, Pacific Northwest berry plants to growers this year. The plants have undergone more than a decade of tests. Until now, the berries had been known as ORUS 1077-47 and ORUS 1076-126. In tests at commercial fields in Oregon, Firecracker and Independence produced fruit for 5 to 7 days longer than the Pacific Northwest's current late-season leader. Firecracker produces mostly medium-size berries. Delicious when eaten fresh, Firecracker strawberries were also rated very good for processing in experiments of pureed or individually quick-frozen berries. Independence also did very well in food-processing tests, but its green cap is difficult to tug from the berry's crown. This makes the berry uneconomical for processing. In field tests in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, Canada, Independence was undaunted by insects, diseases and bad weather. It produced large, firm berries. The Oregon Strawberry Commission and Washington Strawberry Commission provided some of the funding for the studies. Strawberries are low in calories and high in vitamin C. They are a good source of fiber and potassium and provide folate, a B vitamin.
Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory, Corvallis, OR
Chad E. Finn, (541) 750-8760, finnc@bcc.orst.edu

A newly released grass outproduces other forages now grown in the tropics. The new ARS-developed grass, called Brachiaria-Panicum Interspecific Hybrid 104 (BPIH104), yielded 35,720 pounds per acre per year during a 1-year field study. That's considerably more than the 32,148 pounds per year the local common guinea grass produced. The new grass is a hardy year- round plant that can reach a height of 8.5 feet with blades about 1/3 to 4/5 inch wide. BPIH104 could be cut for hay or grazed by beef and dairy cattle. It's suitable for warmer southern U.S. locations such as Florida. Seeds will be stored at the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System. Plant material is available from the ARS Tropical Agricultural Research Station, Box 70, Mayaguez, PR 00681.
Tropical Agricultural Research Station, Mayaguez, PR
Antonio Sotomayor-Rios, (787) 831-3435, ext.232, mayas@ars-grin.gov

A newly released ARS hop variety, named Santiam, offers brewers and beer drinkers the prized aromas until now found only in hops from Germany's Tettnang region. Hops supply beer's distinctive aroma and the zesty bitterness that balances the sweetness of the malted barley. The original Tettnanger variety can be grown in the U.S., but it does not yield as well here as in its homeland. Santiam yields twice the hops as Tettnanger when grown in Oregon, Washington and Idaho, the prime U.S. hop-growing areas. Santiam is also the world's first naturally seedless Tettnang-type hop. Brewers want seedless hops because seeds can add undesired oils to beer. Seeds also add useless weight, complicating pricing negotiations between brewers and growers. With Santiam, ARS has provided domestic alternatives to all three premier European aroma hops: Tettnanger, Hallertau and Saaz. At least one-third of the hops in American brews have ARS origin. U.S. growers produce one-fourth of the world's hops, and many foreign beers also include ARS-released hops.
National Forage Seed Production Research Center, Corvallis, OR
John Henning, (541) 750-8746, jhenning@css.orst.edu

Horizon, a recently released ARS hop variety, has less cohumulone than any commercial hop. High cohumulone levels can cause an off-taste in beer. Another Horizon advantage: Brewers normally use at least two different types of hops—one for hearty aroma, the other for the bittering qualities. Horizon provides both. It contains high levels of alpha acids, which provide bitterness. But unlike many high-alpha-acid hops, Horizon also has good aroma qualities. ARS hop varieties made up 64 percent of all U.S. hop acreage in 1997, worth about $76 million of the $117 million industry. Horizon was originally developed two decades ago but was not publicly released because it is susceptible to downy mildew. Still, because it grows well in semi-arid areas of Washington where downy mildew is not a problem, Horizon was released at the request of the industry.
National Forage Seed Production Research Center, Corvallis, OR
John Henning, (541) 750-8746, jhenning@css.orst.edu

Two new sugarbeet breeding lines have resistance to root rot and leaf spot, two of the most devastating diseases of beets worldwide. ARS scientists released the two lines, FC709-2 and FC727, in cooperation with the Sugar Beet Development Foundation in Denver, CO. Each was developed from genetically different sources. In tests from 1994 to 1997, both lines showed excellent resistance to Rhizoctonia root rot caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani. FC709-2 has good resistance to Cercospora leaf spot caused by the fungus Cercosporabeticola. FC727 has some resistance to leaf spot. The scientists say these new lines help fill the need for high- yielding hybrids with host resistance to leaf spot. This disease infects about half of all U.S. sugarbeet acreage, causing millions of dollars worth of losses each year. Sugarbeets rank seventh among U.S. agricultural row crops, with an annual production value of more than $1.2 billion. Today, about 31 percent of the world sugar consumed and 47 percent of U.S. sugar consumed is from sugarbeets. Commercial breeders can obtain seed of the two new breeding lines from ARS.
Sugarbeet Research, Crops Research Laboratory, Fort Collins, CO
Lee Panella, (970) 498-4230, lpanella@lamar.colostate.edu

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