Location: Plant Introduction Research
Project Number: 5030-21000-064-010-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 1, 2020
End Date: Aug 31, 2021
Objective:
Thorough phenotypic and genomic characterization of the National Plant Germplasm System's (NPGS) flax collection, generate necessary trait information datasets to support utilization by the herbaceous ornamental industry, as well as for industrial applications.
Approach:
During year one, seed will be planted, and plants transplanted to field in spring 2021. In 2021, phenotypic performance will be evaluated and descriptors recorded for all flowering accessions, and phenotypic traits photo-documented, data entered in the GRIN system, and leaf samples harvested for DNA extraction. A backup of accessions will be maintained in the greenhouse for future transplant.
During year two, descriptors and images will be captured for over-wintering, surviving perennial accessions that did not flower in year one. USDA flax collection accessions will be genotyped using the DArTseq system to generate single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data.
During year three, SNP data will be used to determine genetic structure among/within species and populations, and to provide comparative benchmarks with cooperator's ornamental breeding lines and selections. Molecular variance will be analyzed within and among flax species, genotypes and populations to describe degree of population differentiation. SNP data will be used with sequences flax genomes for QTL marker-assisted selection and genome wide association mapping (GWAS) in the future (post-proposal period). Molecular data and remaining phenotypic descriptors will be transferred to the ARS Curator for entry in the GRIN-Global system.
