ARS | Publication request: Studies on long-term preservation of dormant buds of Juglans cinerea

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 20, 2009
Publication Date: November 1, 2009
Citation: Ellis, D.D., Ostry, M., Moore, M., Ambruzs, B.D., Jenderek, M.M. 2009. Studies on long-term preservation of dormant buds of Juglans cinerea. American Society of Agronomy-Crop Science Society of America- Soil Science Society of America 2009 International Annual Meeting, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania November 1-5, 2009 pp. 107. Meeting Abstract

Interpretive Summary: Juglans cinerea (butternut) is a deciduous tree native to the United States and Canada with oblong shaped nuts with an oily texture and a pleasant flavour. The species is threatened by a canker disease caused by the introduced fungus (Sirococcus clavigignenti-juglandacearum) which already eradicated about 90% of the native butternut at some North America sites. Over 60 different germplasm accessions of the species are maintained at the USDA-ARS, NPGS clonal repository in Corvallis, OR as field plantings, and the USDA-Forest Service (FS) maintains several field sites of selected accessions varying in canker resistance. Backing-up butternut germplasm in liquid nitrogen would contribute to securing the species genetic pool for future needs. Our three year study with five accessions of butternut dormant buds indicated survival after liquid nitrogen exposure ranging from 13 to 53% (tested by chip grafting). The developed protocol will be used to back-up the butternut germplasm maintained by the ARS-NPGS repository and the USDA-FS sites.

Technical Abstract: Juglans cinerea (butternut) is a deciduous tree native to the United States and Canada with oblong shaped nuts with an oily texture and a pleasant flavour. The species is threatened by a canker disease caused by the introduced fungus (Sirococcus clavigignenti-juglandacearum) which already eradicated about 90% of the native butternut at some North America sites. Over 60 different germplasm accessions of the species are maintained at the USDA-ARS, NPGS clonal repository in Corvallis, OR as field plantings, and the USDA-Forest Service (FS) maintains several field sites of selected accessions varying in canker resistance. Backing-up butternut germplasm in liquid nitrogen would contribute to securing the species genetic pool for future needs. Our three year study with five accessions of butternut dormant buds indicated survival after liquid nitrogen exposure ranging from 13 to 53% (tested by chip grafting). The developed protocol will be used to back-up the butternut germplasm maintained by the ARS-NPGS repository and the USDA-FS sites.