1. Plant Genetics: TA INTRO
Ryan King

2. Quick bio Native Oregonian: from Southern Oregon/Rogue Valley
Worked with nursery crops, hazelnuts, vegetables, and native plants
B.S. in Horticulture at Oregon State in 2013
Took Plant Genetics with Dr. Pat Hayes in 2011
Currently M.S. student with Dr. Jim Myers, Vegetable Breeding and Genetics Program– interested in breeding vegetables for organic/low-input systems

3. NOVIC
2016 season: managed NOVIC organic vegetable variety trials at OSU’s Lewis Brown Research farm and coordinated with several other farms in the Corvallis area for on-farm trials. Crops included: tomatoes, peppers, corn, winter squash, cabbage and turnips.

4. What am I Doing here?
Thesis project: Assessing genetic differences in populations selected in parallel conventional and organic production systems, using carrots and snap beans as model crops
OSU focus: snap beans (self-pollinated model crop)
University of Wisconsin focus: carrots (cross-pollinated model crop)

5. (Carrots)

6. Thesis Project Goals Long term goal:
Determine most effective and efficient strategies for breeding vegetable cultivars optimized for organic production systems
Supporting objectives:
Compare impact of selection for key traits
Measure genotype x system (organic vs. conventional) and genotype x location (Oregon and Wisconsin) interactions for key traits, and their heritability in each system
Determine genetic correlation between systems and locations
Use next-generation sequencing methods to discover changes at genome level from selection in each system

7. Project TImeline
Spring 2015
Crosses made between Hystyle and Provider, OSU5630 and Black Valentine
Summer 2015
F1 grown at OSU Vegetable Research Farm
Summer 2016
F2 grown in conventional/organic plots at Lewis Brown
Winter 2017
F3 grown in winter nursery in California and in OSU greenhouses (backup)
Summer 2017
F4 grown in conventional/organic replicated trials at Lewis Brown.
Summer 2018
F5 grown in conventional/organic replicated trials in OR and WI

8. Common Bean Phaseolus vulgaris L. Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
Diploid (n = 11)
2n=2x=22
587 Mb (megabase=million base pairs); (Schmutz et al., 2014)
Two independent domestications: Mesoamerica and Andes
In 2016, ~12,000 acres were grown for processing in Oregon (USDA, NASS)
Photo: Jim Myers

9. Germination/Early Vigor
IMPORTANT TRAITS
Germination/Early Vigor
Yield/Productivity
Plant architecture
Pod quality
Root systems

10. Germination

11. Photo: bonnieplants.com
Plant architecture
Lodging
Surface Area Coverage
Pod Distribution
Branching
Flower number
Photo: bonnieplants.com

12. Pod quality Round pod cross section Low fiber Straight and smooth
Image from Burpee.com

13. Root systems Taproot diameter Number/angles of basal and
adventitious roots
Root nodulation
Root rot severity

14. How WIll We Assess Genetic Differences?
Genotyping will be done for F4 (2017) and F5 (2018) using Illumina SNP chip
QTL analysis incorporating mixed model effects to estimate allelic effects and variances
Linkage maps and QTLs for evaluated traits
SNP polymorphism structures and frequencies
Populations will be compared to investigate if similar or same QTLs affect selected traits

15. EXPECted outcomes
Estimates of GxE interactions, genetic variances, models for gene action, and heritabilities of key traits
Comparison of direct and indirect selection
Identification of genomic regions of carrot and bean with shifts in allelic frequency
Molecular markers for important traits
Advanced breeding lines for carrots and beans developed in organic and conventional environments
Info for vegetable seed companies on need to develop independent breeding programs for organic growers

16. Questions?
Come see me for office hours: ALS 4026A; Wednesdays 9-10 am