Location: Crop Germplasm Research
2021 Annual Report
Accomplishments
1. Sequencing the pecan genome. Traditional breeding efforts in pecan can take many decades because of its long juvenile period and tendency to alternate years of heavy and light nut crops. ARS researchers at College Station, Texas, working with university and industry cooperators, sequenced the genomes of four different pecan genetic types that are representative of the genetic diversity of cultivated pecan. One (Pawnee) was analyzed in sufficient detail to identify the regions of its genome that were inherited from each parent. This research, published in one of the world's most prestigious international journals, is a foundational accomplishment. It, along with projected future advancements in defining the pecan genome, will guide project efforts in the years to come toward developing better pecan cultivars, at an accelerated pace, for productive use by U.S. farmers.
2. User-friendly pecan database for researchers and producers. User-friendly pecan database for researchers and producers. The USDA pecan research program, centered in Texas, dates back almost 100 years. During that time, a wealth of valuable and irreplaceable research data has been generated; however, this important information has never been assembled into a single, widely accessible and user friendly source. ARS researchers at College Station, Texas, working with university cooperators and funded by the USDA Specialty Crops Research Initiative, developed a comprehensive database that will capture essentially all the important historical data on pecan development, as well as more contemporary information. This database will be updatable as new information is developed and will become an exceedingly valuable resource for pecan breeders and researchers, and also producers, extension personnel, etc., because it will contain photos, and other critical information that will be of practical value in making pecan orchard management decisions.
Review Publications
Bentley, N., Grauke, L.J., Ruhlman, E., Klein, R.R., Kubenka, K.A., Wang, X., Klein, P. 2020. Linkage mapping and QTL analysis of pecan (Carya illinoinensis) full-siblings using genotyping-by-sequencing. Tree Genetics and Genomes. 16. Article 83. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11295-020-01476-6.
Hilton, A., Jeong, M., Hsu, J., Cao, F., Choi, W., Wang, X., Yu, C., Jo, Y. 2021. Thermal treatment using microwave radiation for the phytosanitation of Xylella fastidiosa in pecan graftwood. PLoS ONE. 16(1). Article e0244758. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244758.