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2004 Events
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The design phase of the Advanced Genetics Laboratory Addition to the National Small Grains Germplasm Research Facility at Aberdeen, ID is currently underway.

 

 

 

New greenhouse construction is underway at Aberdeen.  Completion of the project is expected in early 2005 and the new facility will enhance our research in potato disease resistance and barley and oat genetics.  Phil Bregitzer, Jonathan Whitworth, and John Rutger served as the design team for the new greenhouse.

     

         

 

 

Outstanding Early Career Scientist  - Pacific West Area

 

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Ken Overturf has been named the outstanding early career scientist from the USDA-ARS Pacific West Area for 2004.  Congratulations Ken.

 

 

Ken Overturf with fish

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VISITORS

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Dr. Pangirayi Tongoona of the African Center for Crop Improvement, University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, visited the laboratory of Dr. Victor Raboy, Aberdeen Idaho, during the week of Dec. 6th through 10th. Dr. Tongoona is working with Dr. Raboy in the development of Low Phytate maize hybrids that are adapted for production in the semi-tropical to tropical environements of southern Africa. This project is supported in part by the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service. Consumption of Low Phytate maize might prove useful in improving iron, zinc and calcium nutrition in African communities that rely on maize as their most important food.

 

Dr. Raboy with Dr. Tongoona  Dr. Bonman with Dr. Tongoona  Dr. Raboy with Dr. Tongoona

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Russian scientists visit ARS-Aberdeen.  Dr. Harold Bockelman meets with Dr. Elizaveta Kovalenko (right) and Dr. Inna Lapochkina (left) assisted by interpreter Larissa Kulinich to develop a research proposal entitled "Creation of wheat germplasm resistant to several harmful pathogens".  The proposal will be submitted to the USDA-ARS Former Soviet Union Scientific Cooperation Program.  Dr. Kovalenko is Head of the Department of Mycology and Immunity at the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences All-Russian Research Institute of Phytopathology and Dr. Lapochkina is an expert in genetics and cytology at the Agricultural Research Institute of Central Regioins of Non-Chernozem Zone.  The proposed project will enhance the research capacity of both the Russian cooperators and ARS-Aberdeen.

 

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A Mexican Malting Barley Trade Team sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council visited the USDA-ARS Small Grains and Potato Germplasm Research Unit in Aberdeen, Idaho on August 12.   ARS scientists Don Obert, Phil Bregitzer, David Hoffman, An Hang, and Mike Bonman discussed malting barley research with the group.   Harold Bockelman gave a tour of the National Small Grains Collection and the visitors toured field plots with researchers.  The trade team was hosted by Kelly Olsen, Administrator of the Idaho Barley Commission.  Visitors were: Eugenio De La Mora Miquel, Grupo Modelo; Alberto C Jimenez Garcia, Cerveceria Cuauhtemoc Moctezuma; Julio Arturo Hern?ndez Flores, U.S. Grains Council; Jos? Martin P?rez Ibarra, Compa??a Cervecera de Zacatecas; Sergio De La Torre Cantu, Cerveceria Cuauhtemoc Moctezuma; and Julian Tonix Celis, Grupo Modelo.

 

 Mexican Malting Barley Trade Team Mexican Mating Barley Trade Team 
 Mexican Malting Barley Trade Team  Mexican Malting Barley Trade Team

 

 

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Dr. Mike Bonman gives a tour of the National Small Grains Reserch Facility and the National Small Grains Collection to visitiors Josef Vacek of the Potato Research Institute, Havlickuv Brod and Jiri Blahovec of the Czech University of Agriculture, Czech Republic 

 

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Overview of 12 Hill Selection

 

Potato breeding clones selected in 2003 as first field generation material are re-evaluated as 12 hill plots in 2004 (a hill = one plant of that clone).  Entries saved have the proper agronomic traits suitable for variety release or for further use in the breeding program as parental material.  Selected 12 hill clones will be evaluated for processing attributes and other traits important for utilization by the processing industry.  Twelve hill clones will be entries in a replicated field trial in 2005 to gather additional data regarding characteristics such as resistance to early dying, yield-total and marketable, and tuber size distribution.  After several years of further field evaluation by researchers and industry, superior 12 hill selections may be released as potato varieties.  

 

 

 

 

 

Tubers of representative 12 hill clone

  

Selecting superior 12 hill clones

Lockwood 2-row digger used in digging 12 hill (2nd year) field selections at Aberdeen.

Tubers of a representative 12 hill clone.
Selecting superior 12 hill clones in the field.
 12 hill selection crew  Discussing merits of a 12 hill selection  12 hill selection crew
12 Hill selection crew comprised from left to right of Steve Love, Jeff Stark, and Peggy Bain (University of Idaho).
Dan Hane, OregonStateUniversity (left) and Rich Novy, USDA-ARS discuss the merits of a 12 hill selection.

12 Hill Selection crew comprised (left to right) of Rich Novy and Jonathan Whitworth (USDA-ARS), Dane Hane (OregonStateUniversity), and Dave Hammond (Lamb Weston).