1. The Importance of “Genomes to Fields”
Rod Williamson
Director of Research and Development
March 21, 2018

2. 1997 goal - Sequence Corn Genome
ICGA and NCGA worked with Congress for research appropriation for the “National Corn Genome Initiative” ( )
Successful in getting funding for the “National Plant Genome Initiative” in October (20 years ago!)
$1.5 billion in Plant Genome Initiative
$29 million for the maize sequence

3. After Maize was Sequenced…
Maize genome sequenced in 2009
In 2010 Iowa Corn Growers Association asked “Now what?”
How can this sequence information be applied to their farms?
NCGA/ICGA held Functionality of Maize Genome Workshop in Chicago in 2010 with academia and industry
Concluded that obtaining phenotype data on maize was next priority

4. Genomes to Fields Photo credit – www.cyverse.org
Goal: Catalyze and coordinate research linking genomics and predictive phenomics to expand our understanding of the interacting roles of crop genomes and crop environments (weather and management practices) to improve prediction ability
To leverage the corn genome investment
Photo credit –

5. Multiple Phenotypes (traits) Genotype
Gene Expression
Different
Environments
Multiple Phenotypes (traits)
Genotype
The objective of Genomes To Fields is to conduct research that will improve understanding of the relationships between crop genotypes and phenotypes in complex and changing environments. This will result in a coordinated approach to crop phenotyping and development of tools that will accelerate plant breeding and improve management decisions optimizing sustainable crop production.

6. Genomes to Fields - Phenotyping
Goal is to understand the function (phenotyping) of each gene under different environments [GxE]
1,500 hybrids; 77 unique environments.
Establish the underlying genetic association with specific stress conditions

7. Modeling and analytical tools
Computer scientist
Engineers
Mathematicians
Plant Scientists
GENOMES TO FIELDS
(G2F)
Biologists
Statisticians
Bioinformaticians
Crop Modelers
Modeling and analytical tools
HT phenotyping
tools
- Create an interdisciplinary framework for understanding and managing crop performance
- Create a living infrastructure of researchers from multiple disciplines and a network of field phenotyping sites
- Enable discovery of plant processes affecting productivity and to develop novel tools, methodologies and analytical resources for high-throughput phenotyping
- Broaden participation of contributing disciplines to plant breeding efforts
- An important component of this Initiative is to train the next generation of multi-disciplinary plant scientists
Student Training
Database development
G X E Project
Soil Scientists
Environtypers
Slide from N de Leon

8. Genomes to Fields Trials 2017
21 States and Ontario
38 locations
32 scientists
43 experiments
21,186 plots
4 years of data – began 2014
The 2014 data are available through this link:
The 2015 data are available through this link:
The 2016 data are just became available in early 2018
Maize phenotype database has been created at CyVerse, funded by National Science Foundation

9. Genotype, Weather/Environment, Phenotypic Data collected
Evaluation across all environments included:
Additional traits measured at specific locations
Days to anthesis
Days to silk
Ear height
Plant height
Plot weight
Test weight
Moisture
Grain yield
Stand count
Root Lodging
Stalk Lodging

10. Novel Phenotyping Tools
IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

11. Insight and Understanding
“ suggests that by intensively breeding for yield, corn breeders have limited the pool of possibilities for future North American corn hybrids, thus creating a smaller universe of available hybrids adaptable in responding to stresses like drought or pests For more details, read the Iowa Corn Growers Association News”

12. Iowa Corn Promotion Board $2. 6 million Other Corn Checkoff $1
Iowa Corn Promotion Board $2.6 million Other Corn Checkoff $1.2 million
Genomes To Fields was born March, 2013 at the Corn Breeding Research meeting in St Charles, Illinois
Iowa Corn Promotion Board farmers began funding G2F - $2.6 million as of Jan 2018
Numerous other state corn boards and NCGA have also provided funds - $1.2 million as of Jan 2018
Farmers asked for this research and are putting their money where their mouths are
In kind support has also been provided by universities and USDA-ARS

13. Why Do This?
Society
Efficient use of resources to feed and fuel growing population
Business
Prediction tool for genetic combinations - CRISPR
Sensors to measure results for research trials
Analytical tools
Future employees – trained students
Farmers
Improved and more resilient hybrids for future corn production
Better predictability for optimum placement of hybrids on farm
Sensors to monitor growing crops

14. Congressional Appropriation
In 2017, were successful in getting language approved and signed:
FY17 Senate Appropriations- Genomes to Fields. The Committee encourages ARS to expand the Germplasm Enhancement of Maize [GEM] project and has provided $1,250,000 to complement the existing USDA maize germplasm programs and support the emerging large-scale public sector effort to investigate the interaction of maize genome variation and environments, known as the Genomes to Fields project.

15. Federal Appropriation Effort
G2F Government Relations coalition formed
Iowa State, Wisconsin, Penn State, Minnesota, Cornell, ICGA & NCGA
NCGA working with other commodity groups to build a coalition for phenotyping funding at federal level
Making plans for lobbying for Farm Bill and 2019 federal budget
Total ask will be $30 million per year