1. GGF GEM Going forward Walter Trevisan Retired Maize Breeder
GEM TSG Chair

2. Outline GEM Mission GEM Yield targets GEM Development Team
WEMA Confidential
Outline
GEM Mission
GEM Yield targets
GEM Development Team
GEM GOING FORWARD
Conclusion

3. GEM Mission
The mission of the GEM (Germplasm Enhancement of Maize) Project is to effectively increase the diversity of U.S. maize germplasm utilized by producers, global end-users and consumers.
The mission is achieved through collaborative efforts of USDA-ARS, public, and private research scientists by utilizing exotic, public, and proprietary maize germplasm. The resulting germplasm and associated knowledge, derived via the identification and incorporation of favorable alleles for prioritized traits from exotic sources, are shared and utilized in private and public breeding programs and ultimately contributes to increased genetic diversity of maize grown by producers and improved product performance.
In addition, the GEM Project provides opportunities for training plant scientists in the enhancement and utilization of un-adapted germplasm. This contributes to the global sustainability of agricultural production, economic stability and the nutrition and well being of society.

4. Racial Background of 270 GEM Releases
GEM: 301 temperate adapted inbreds developed
from 35+ different EXOTIC races/germplasm

5. Some examples of Accomplishments
GEMS-0002 and GEMS-0003 identified for Fusarium Ear Rot and Reduced Fumonisin
KO679Y, GEMS-0030, GEMN-0130 identified for reduced aflatoxin levels
Antigua03:N1242 identified as potential source for Fall Armyworm resistance
Multiple insect resistance identified in GEMN-0130, GEMN-0133, and CUBA117:S15
GEMS-0015, GEMS27 and an uncoded inbred FS8A(T).N were identified as resistant to Late Wilt in Egypt
Several GEM inbreds were have shown resistance to MCMV in a preliminary study done by CIMMYT in Mexico

6. New approaches at gem to tackle more diversity
2010- GEM initiated an Allelic Diversity Project
Allows exploitation of larger number of races
Produce GEM germplasm that can be utilized for modern haplotype discovery
Germplasm not ‘filtered’ for agronomic performance
March untested DH inbreds developed from 75% Adapted Corn Belt /25% Exotic were released jointly with the ISU Doubled Haploid Facility
Contribution of over 50 races
This single release almost doubled the number of races exploited by GEM “conventional” in 20+ years
New batches will be released every other year

7. GEM Mission- What is missing?
One of the main objectives of the project since its start is to release diverse germplasm that are not less than 90% of the yield level of the present commercials
After 23+ years of the GEM Project, the cooperators agree that GEM has provided a considerable amount of diversity germplasm that are available to US and out of US seed companies
But….. that 90% yield target proved to be very difficult to achieve
The gap has becoming greater as the seed industry changed to fewer large seed companies with enormous resources
Seeking higher genetic gains, some large seed companies have reduced considerably the genetic diversity utilized for commercial purposes in the US
The TSG decided a year ago to have a small team to develop a plan to study options to make GEM more agile and try to meet the goal of 90% yield of the commercial products.

8. The GEM TSG Development Team
Members:
Candice Gardner- USDA-ARS-Ames
Matt Krakowsky- USDA/GEM-Raleigh
Martin Bohn- University of Illinois
David Butruille- Monsanto Iowa
Goran Srnic- Pioneer-Iowa
David Uhr- Dow Agrisciences-Indiana
Freeman Whitehead- AgReliant
Walter Trevisan- Team Lead- TSG Chair

9. Exotic germplasm introgression
Germplasm Bank
Improved Exotic
(Private; Public)
Opportunities to Improve
Company A cross to an adapted proprietary Inbred
GEM
Raleigh (NC)
Company B cross the F1 to an adapted proprietary Inbred
GEM
Ames (Iowa)
GEM Inbred
Released
(S3)
GEM x GEM
(Recycling)

10. GEM GOING FORWARD EXOTIC GERMPLASM to INTROGRESS
Germplasm Bank Accessions
This is the most important part of GEM and will continue
It should follow the suggestions of the LAMP project for most valuable germplasm to introgress
Improved Exotic Germplasm (Besides the sources been used to date from Asia, Africa and Latin America):-
US Cooperators have an option now to choose donating temperate or tropical germplasm
Larger Seed Companies like Monsanto, Dow and possibly AgReliant will be donating elite tropical germplasm to be introgressed into GEM Elite germplasm.

11. GEM GOING FORWARD TEMPERATE GERMPLASM to ADAPT EXOTICS
Cooperators have been /will be asked to use temperate lines not older than years from PVP application
Some large cooperators have already agreed on this.
When not possible, GEM could use Ex-PVP inbreds to use as donors for adaptation
Known Background allows better choice of testers
The last “Backcross” are the most important
50% of the final pedigree

12. GEM GOING FORWARD
Better Testers for GEM segregating materials
Historically Holden’s inbreds have been used
Now they are old and not competitive anymore
Recently Ames have moved to use MBS (Mike Brighton Seeds) testers, with good success
The development team agrees that this a good strategy for the GEM Ames Project and shall continue
Raleigh-NC
Holden’s or Mike Brighton’s testers don’t adapt very well
Single crosses have been used as testers
In some years some seed companies have provided ICB
Constantly changed and sometimes, not heteroticaly aligned
Options:-
Convince cooperators to donate more ICB rows for GEM
Use GEM elite inbreds or North Carolina elite inbreds as testers
As the GEM Elite x GEM Elite starts to yield better finished DH inbreds we foresee these inbreds becoming the GEM predominant testers

13. GEM GOING FORWARD
Decrease of Cycle Time (Summary)
The methodologies used at Ames and Raleigh were discussed in depth and new modified routines were established (pls review the attachments sent)
The Ames “Traditional GEM” methodology will be decreased from 8 years to 6 years
The Ames recycling (Elite GEM X Elite GEM) will decrease cycle time to 5 years using DH
Monsanto will donate to GEM the induction, doubling and first year testing of 4-6 populations a year
AgReliant will be inducing and doubling one population a year
We will be constantly seeking more contribution in this area
Raleigh “Traditional GEM” would decrease from 14 years to 9
Raleigh recycling (Elite GEM x Elite GEM) will decrease cycle time to 5 years, with Monsanto DH cooperation
If GEM could have resources for a more aggressive winter nursery usage, 1-2 years could be saved in each routine

14. GEM GOING FORWARD Other suggestions:-
Finish Allelic Diversity projects already started; evaluate utilization of the inbreds B4 start new projects
Disease evaluation network
Increase number of diseases evaluated to cover new potential disease:- MLN; MCMV; Late Wilt; new races of present important diseases, etc
Increase number of locations
Specialty Traits
Continue to access the grain quality of GEM releases
Quality traits identified has been identified as one of the most important contribution of GEM germplasm

15. GEM GOING FORWARD How much efforts in each activity? (Suggested):-
Cooperator’s Tropical Elite x GEM Elite…....20%
Conv GEM Elite x GEM Elite… %
DH GEM Elite x GEM Elite… %
Traditional GEM (Germplasm Bank)… %
Alleclic Diversity %
Summary
Traditional GEM:- 45% (25% Germ bank + 20% Coop)
Recycling of GEM Elite:- 40% (15% Con + 25% DH)
Allelic Diversity:- 15%

16. We do have a chance with projects like GEM that can:-
CONCLUSION
We do have a chance with projects like GEM that can:-
Use of Better Exotics
Use of Better Temperates to adapt Exotics
Decrease Cycle Time
Use Improved methodologies
Use DH for recycling
If possible, more resources dedicated to:-
winter nurseries
a larger testing network
So… we can acchive the GEM yield targets and release inbreds that would be more attractive to the seed industry!
PLANT BREEDING DILEMMA
The more effective plant breeders become at selecting for desired characteristics and the higher the market demand for results, the greater the risk of rapid genetic diversity decline. What effects will increased intensity of selection have on our ability to make ongoing genetic gains for the next 10, 20, 50, 100 years?
How do plant breeders go beyond single gene introgression of useful alleles from exotic sources to tackling a greater quantitative, massive recombination challenge of utilizing unadapted, yet highly diverse germplasm?
Dave Bubeck, DuPont Pioneer-USA