Source: Institute for Advanced Learning and Research submitted to
HIGH VALUE HORTICULTURAL CROPS, VIRGINIA
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
EXTENDED
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0219562
Grant No.
2009-38891-20092
Project No.
VAW-2009-04069
Proposal No.
2009-04069
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
WL
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2009
Project End Date
Feb 28, 2011
Grant Year
2009
Project Director
Flinn, B.
Recipient Organization
Institute for Advanced Learning and Research
(N/A)
Danville,VA 24540
Performing Department
Institute for Sustainable and Renewable Resources
Non Technical Summary
The economic vitality of Southern Virginia, founded upon the tobacco and textile industries, has suffered due to global competition, with extensive plant closings, reduced tobacco outputs, and reduced capital flow through the region. To expand and revitalize this economy, the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) was established, based in Danville, Virginia. Targeting the agricultural strengths of the region, the Institute for Sustainable and Renewable Resources (ISRR) a research center jointly affiliated with the Departments of Horticulture and Forestry at Virginia Tech, was established as one of four IALR research centers. The ISRR has used expertise in plant tissue culture, plant molecular biology, genomics and molecular breeding to develop novel ornamental, bioenergy and forestry plant variety development, as well as the development of novel plant bio-products. Through our close collaborations with the Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association (VNLA) Beautiful Gardens plant introduction program, local farmers and entrepreneurs, we are poised to diversify the traditional tobacco-based economy by providing new marketable products to be propagated in large numbers in a new commercial facility, and also grown in regional greenhouses and fields. In addition, the ISRR serves as a major educational and outreach facility in plant biotechnology, providing interactions with K-12 programs, as well as local science teacher and graduate student training, through close relationships between the ISRR and educational institutions. Given our focus, we have several objectives during the course of this funding period: 1) Novel horticultural and forestry plant development, including prolonged blooming daylilies and ornamental conifers; 2) Plant bio-based product development with novel commercial value; 3) Novel biomass/bioenergy feedstock development, leading to regional field trials and commercial growth opportunities; and 4) Expanded outreach and mentoring programs in various aspects of plant biology with the local community and educational groups. During the period of this project, we will continue working to obtain funding for the establishment of a commercial entity into which the developed protocols and products will feed, aiding in the creation of new jobs and a new, plant biology-based cluster for economic development.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
15%
Applied
70%
Developmental
15%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2021122104010%
2021620105015%
2022099105010%
2040670102015%
2041620105015%
2062499105015%
2152110104010%
2152129104010%
Knowledge Area
202 - Plant Genetic Resources; 215 - Biological Control of Pests Affecting Plants; 204 - Plant Product Quality and Utility (Preharvest); 206 - Basic Plant Biology;

Subject Of Investigation
2099 - Sugar crops, general/other; 1122 - Strawberry; 0670 - Short rotation woody crops, including holiday trees; 2129 - Florist crops, other; 2499 - Plant research, general; 2110 - Ornamental trees and shrubs; 1620 - Warm season perennial grasses;

Field Of Science
1020 - Physiology; 1050 - Developmental biology; 1040 - Molecular biology;
Goals / Objectives
Southern Virginia, like many other rural areas, has undergone significant economic decline over the past quarter century. The economic vitality of this region, founded on the tobacco and textile industries, has suffered due to global competition. The inability to compete with offshore entities has resulted in extensive plant closings, reduced tobacco outputs, and reduced capital flow through the region. To expand and revitalize the economy of Southern Virginia, building upon the agricultural, polymer processing and motorsport interests of the region, a variety of organizations (including Virginia Tech, Averett University and Danville Community College) partnered to help establish the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), based in Danville, Virginia. To specifically build upon the agricultural strengths of the region, the Institute for Sustainable and Renewable Resources (ISRR) a research center jointly affiliated with the Departments of Horticulture and Forestry at Virginia Tech, was established as one of four IALR research centers. Through this USDA-supported effort, the ISRR has used expertise in plant tissue culture, plant molecular biology, genomics and molecular breeding to develop novel ornamental, bioenergy and forestry plant variety development, as well as the development of novel plant bio-products. Through our close collaborations with the Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association (VNLA) Beautiful Gardens plant introduction program, local farmers and entrepreneurs, we are poised to diversify the traditional tobacco-based economy by providing new marketable products to be propagated in large numbers in a new commercial facility, and also grown in regional greenhouses and fields. In addition, the ISRR serves as a major educational and outreach facility in plant biotechnology, providing interactions with K-12 programs, as well as local science teacher and graduate student training, through close relationships between the ISRR and our affiliated educational institutions. Given our focus, we have several objectives during the course of this funding period: 1) Novel horticultural and forestry plant development, providing an avenue for their commercial release and the creation of new jobs regionally; 2) Plant bio-based product development with novel commercial value; 3) Novel biomass/bioenergy feedstock development, leading to regional field trials and commercial growth opportunities; and 4) Expanded outreach and mentoring programs in various aspects of plant biology with the local community and educational groups.
Project Methods
The ISRR mandate desires to use plant biology to enhance economic and community development in Southside Virginia. To do this: 1) We are developing valuable ornamental, crop and forestry plants. A variety of interactions with the Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association (VNLA) and others exist, to explore research areas of interest to the Virginia (and national) ornamental industry. The research program on various forestry and horticultural crops involves the areas of plant tissue culture, molecular biology, molecular breeding and genomics. 2) We are developing novel products from plants, with potential for commercial development and production in southside Virginia. Research has focused on the identification of molecules produced by plants that are released to the cell surface, which we think are playing a role in controlling plant development, as well as in targeted cell wall structural modifications; the modification and purification of plant proteins to allow their use for packaging materials and medical use. 3) We are developing bio-fuel/bio-energy crops, to aid in the development of a regional bio-based energy economy. We are addressing grassy and woody feedstock improvements, as well as alternative bio-energy crops, developing methods of: a) maximizing biomass deposition for energy yield, while minimizing waste (ash) production, b) improving cropping systems through plant structural modifications, and c) developing value added components for these feedstocks to make their growth more economically viable for farmers. We have already developed new switchgrass plants, which are being tested for enhanced stress tolerance and growth. This program is interfacing with Virginia Tech researchers and Piedmont Bioproducts (Gretna VA), a local start-up establishing a pilot scale testing/research/demonstration rapid pyrolysis reactor for bio-oil and heat/electricity generation. All research faculty have expertise in plant biotechnology, including the development of plant tissue and propagation protocols (encompassing herbaceous and woody species) and molecular breeding techniques. Faculty are responsible for setting up our germplasm repository, propagation and evaluation of germplasm and initiation of the novel germplasm development program. The molecular breeding components utilize a variety of techniques for RNA/DNA isolations, protein extractions, cDNA library synthesis, probe production and hybridizations. Additionally, in order for the ISRR to have a significant impact on Southside, we are making contributions to the local Community. We have contributed to the development of merit or distinction scholarships for one graduating senior from Danville City and Pittsylvania County high schools. These scholarships have allowed the winners to spend a summer internship in our laboratories. During the past 2 years, we have also entertained a high school science teacher intern, allowing local teachers the opportunity to obtain hands-on training and experience. Finally, a new program starting in Fall 2009 will see several Governor's School high school seniors carrying out directed research projects with ISRR faculty, as a component of their studies.

Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: The focus of this project was to carry out plant biology research targeting economic development in Southern Virginia, as well as educational/outreach activities. Several ACTIVITIES took place: [A - RESEARCH] Various research experiments targeted 1] Valuable crop, ornamental and forestry plants - a) Graduate student effort characterized 2 strawberry mutant lines with altered flower morphology and altered leaf morphology; b) Graduate student effort on propagation protocols for valuable pines; c) The initiation of tissue culture protocols for ornamental Icelandic Poppies; d) The development of virus-resistant Impatiens, targeting inhibition of the virus itself by the plant. 2] The development of novel products from plants - a) We characterized extracellular proteases for their potential regulation of plant cell wall structure/overall development, with analyses in Arabidopsis, switchgrass and poplar; b) We targeted the development of plant protein-derived films and coatings as value-added products. Initial experiments using corn proteins were supplemented with other grass-derived proteins with similar potential; c) We targeted a tentative anti-microbial protein from potato for use as a natural, biological control agent. 3] Molecular breeding for biomass - a) We conducted research to develop tissue culture and plant genetic engineering methodologies for Jerusalem artichoke; b) Work on sterile triploid Miscanthus tissue culture propagation methods was used to develop a draft US Patent Application; c) We carried out screening to identify new endophytes to enhance bioenergy crop growth/productivity; d) Graduate student effort was directed at the study of 2 potato mutants altered in stem growth (inhibited) and axillary branching (enhanced). [B - TEACHING] We began a relationship with the Averett University Department of Biology with initial lectures in general plant biotechnology and a subsequent laboratory workshop in tobacco tissue culture. [C - MENTORING] Several Virginia Tech Ph.D. students worked on projects under this funding. In addition, 4 high school seniors from the Piedmont Governor's School carried out directed research projects. One of the students enjoyed her experience so much that she changed her undergraduate major to Biotechnology prior to beginning her undergraduate degree in September 2010. [D - PRODUCTS] One of our Ph.D. students successfully defended her Ph.D. thesis in August 2010. DISSEMINATION OF OUTPUTS: Results from this funded program were reported at the American Society of Plant Biologists meeting in Montreal during July 2010. Presentations were also provided at quarterly Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association Beautiful Gardens meetings, one of our collaborating partners. We also provided tours and program descriptions to our Congressional Representative (Tom Perriello) and Senate Representative (Jim Webb). In addition, stories about the research program have appeared in the local newspaper (Danville Register and Bee), as well as Virginia Tech Outreach and Research publications. Finally, our research efforts were also described within the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research's Annual Report. PARTICIPANTS: INDIVIDUALS: B Flinn - ISRR Director and co-supervisor of graduate students (GS) Lara-Chavez and Aulakh, and also worked on conifer propagation/potato mutant characterization; Y Dan - ISRR faculty and co-supervisor of GS Holt on strawberry project; C Mei - ISRR faculty worked on switchgrass, Miscanthus and Jerusalem artichoke projects; Z Li - ISRR faculty worked on daylily development and plant protein films; R Veilleux - Virginia Tech (VT) faculty and co-supervisor of GS Aulakh and GS Holt for work on strawberry genomics and potato mutant characterization; Tom Fox - VT faculty acting as co-supervisor for GS Lara-Chavez; S Aulakh (GS) - worked on potato mutant characterization; S Holt (GS) - worked on strawberry mutant characterization; A Lara-Chavez (GS) - worked on conifer propagation projects; Kedong Da - Research Associate (RA) contributed to tissue culture protocol development for azalea, Miscanthus, triploid daylily, ornamental poppy; Song Zhang - RA worked on Hellebore hybrid tissue culture protocol development; S Kim - Research specialist worked on switchgrass, Miscanthus and Jerusalem artichoke projects; N Compton, S Fiske, J Reutter, C Soyars - Piedmont Governor's School high school seniors who worked on directed studies projects with ISRR faculty. COLLABORATORS: U Egertsdotter - Georgia Tech researcher and co-supervised graduate student (GS) Lara-Chavez and worked on conifer propagation; Jerzy Nowak - VT faculty interacted on bacterial endophyte enhancement of plant growth; B Zhao - VT faculty provided various switchgrass seed genotypes for testing; V Shulaev - strawberry genome sequencing and strawberry genome database construction at Virginia Bioinformatics Institute; K Moss - collaborated with field trials for Jerusalem artichoke, switchgrass and Miscanthus; B Wollam - provided ornamental poppy germplasm. PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS: Institute for Advanced Learning and Research - provided financial support and laboratory facilities; Virginia Tech - provided faculty acting as co-advisors for GS located at the Institute for Advanced learning and Research; Virginia Bioinformatics Institute - provided infrastructure for strawberry genome sequencing and genome assembly database; Commonwealth of Virginia - provided financial support; Piedmont Governor's School for Science, mathematics and Technology - provided high school seniors who worked with ISRR faculty on directed studies projects; Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission - provided financial support; Piedmont BioProducts LLC - provided resources for Jerusalem artichoke, switchgrass and Miscanthus field trials in Southern Virginia; Wollam Gardens - provided a variety of ornamental poppy genotypes for tissue culture; Pine Knot Farms - Hellebore hybrid breeders who provided plant materials for tissue culture protocol development. TRAINING OR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: This project allowed several high school seniors to develop research and presentation skills on projects with ISRR faculty. RESOURCE AND ACTIVITY EFFECTS ON PROJECT OUTPUTS: Funds supported graduate students and technical help, and material/supplies to carry out the various projects. TARGET AUDIENCES: The research projects, associated results and educational opportunities supported by this funding reached several different TARGET AUDIENCES: 1] Rosaceae Research Community - The strawberry mutants under study generated novel data for various morphological characteristics, and the genes associated with these. This information provided additional data valuable for comparative genomic studies for other Rosaceae researchers. Updates on Rosaceae research progress were provided during frequent teleconferences with members of the Rosaceae genome consortium. 2] Virginia Nurseries and Ornamental Plant Growers - The development of tissue culture protocols and large scale clonal propagation capacity for Virginia-bred azaleas, daylilies and Hellebore hybrids, as well as for Virginia-grown ornamental poppies, were of direct interest to the Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association (VNLA), as well as individual Virginia nurseries (Pine Knot Farms and Wollam Gardens). These various plants will eventually feed profits into the Virginia green industry, and new jobs into the Virginia, illustrating the applied nature of this funded research program. Research progress on these various ornamentals were routinely provided at quarterly VNLA Beautiful Gardens Plant Introduction Program meetings, as well as to our collaborators at Pine Knot Farms and Wollam Gardens. 3] Bio-Energy Feedstock Growers and Bio-Energy Producers - This group is a target market for the eventual growth of bio-energy crops developed as part of this effort. In a recent collaboration with Piedmont BioProducts LLC, ten thousand plantlets were generated for field trials at their site, using the developed Miscanthus propagation protocol. This field trial validated the ability of the propagation technology developed from this project to rapidly produce a large number of healthy and hardy plantlets. Furthermore, the plantlets survived and over-wintered well under field conditions and initiated new growth during the spring, attesting to the quality of the material produced. This material was on display for the public to see, and was also shown to various federal and state legislators. Piedmont BioProducts LLC has recruited a network of biomass feedstock growers, and it is hoped that the large scale production of Miscanthus generated using this technology will be grown and used by regional farmers, and also by national growers. 4] Local Students - This project used research for community development, with a key focus being enhanced educational opportunities/advancement for regional students. Several of the projects supported by this funding were used to provide hands-on directed research internships for four Piedmont Governor's School students. This was a valuable exercise, and at least one of the students indicated a change in their proposed undergraduate minor to Agricultural Biotechnology due to the experience. A Plant Biotechnology lecture and tissue culture workshop were provided to local undergraduate students at Averett University. Also, the funding provided for research and training opportunities for Virginia Tech graduate students in various aspects of plant biology. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
The work funded through this grant generated new information which resulted in a CHANGE IN KNOWLEDGE for several research areas: A] A successful tissue culture regeneration protocol using somatic embryogenesis (SE) was developed for Pinus Oocarpa, an economically important tropical pine. This represented the first report of SE for this pine, as well as the first characterization of gene expression in this pine during embryo development. B] A successful somatic embryo regeneration protocol was developed for ornamental Icelandic poppies. While previous published reports have dealt with opium poppy tissue culture, primarily through cell culture, this represented the first description of ornamental poppy tissue culture. C] Over sixty Hellebore x hybridus genotypes were placed into culture and were subjected to shoot proliferation, elongation and rooting treatments which were developed as part of this project. To the best of our knowledge, this work represented the first incidence of these high value hybrids being developed and placed in a tissue culture environment. D] A robust micropropagation protocol was developed for the bioenergy grass, Miscanthus x giganteus. This protocol was significantly better than previously reported protocols, increasing plantlet production over 2-fold. E] A new beneficial bacterial endophyte was identified which had not previously been described with switchgrass, which boosted biomass accumulation over 5-fold compared to non-endophyte-inoculated controls. The endophyte also appeared to have anti-fungal properties, and enhanced plant tolerance to moderate osmotic and salt stresses. F] Two previously uncharacterized potato mutants were studied, and the position of the mutations identified on potato chromosomes. Very little work has been carried out on this specific mutant population, and the work being carried out on these two mutants is unique. G] Extracellular plant matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are poorly understood. Our work revealed that inhibition of MMP action in Arabidopsis seeds blocked germination. Focused attention on the constitutively-expressed At5-MMP revealed that mutation of the catalytic domain in At5-MMP could inhibit metalloprotease activity. The knowledge of this mutation and lack of activity was used to devise experiments to identify interacting, tentative substrates for At5-MMP action. The knowledge generated also suggested that MMP action may be needed for the cell wall extensibility needed for growth. Some of the new knowledge generated above resulted in CHANGE IN ACTIONS. The developed tissue culture protocols for the Hellebores, poppies and other plants were used to begin the large scale bulking of these plants as a proof-of-concept of the feasibility of the protocols for commercial-scale production, as well as for phenotypic assessment. The Miscanthus x giganteus protocols were used to generate 10,000 plants as a collaborative effort with a local nurseryman, and were also assessed for their ability to be planted using a tobacco planter, representing the first step in the potential application of this technology by local tobacco farmers.

Publications

  • Lara-Chavez, A.M. 2010. Somatic embryogenesis in southern and tropical pine species: Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), Longleaf pine (P. palustris) and Oocarpa pine (P. oocarpa). Doctoral thesis submitted to the Department of Forestry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. 189 pp.
  • Mei, C., Kim, S., Nowak, J. Flinn, B. 2010. Genetic enhancement of biofuel and bioenergy crop switchgrass. Plant Biology 2010, American Society of Plant BiologistsAnnual Meeting, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (P12005).