Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
MICHIGAN
AGRICULTURAL
EXPERIMENT
STATION
SPRING 2005
VOL. 23 NO. 1
Plant Breeding
and Genetics:
Harvesting
the Power of
DNA
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Since its creation, the Michigan traits in each crop while keeping yields high.
Agricultural Experiment Station has been Yet some in agriculture perceive that plant
helping growers by developing new plant breeding is becoming the purview of private
varieties and cultural techniques. Breeding companies because many plant breeding
and variety release are an outgrowth of the positions at public universities are being
Hatch Act, passed by Congress in 1887, which eliminated. To address that issue, the Plant
created the MAES. Breeding and Genetics Group at MSU organ-
In 1877, William Beal established the first ized an international conference on the
seed testing laboratory in the United States at topic, the first of its kind. With support from
what was then the Michigan Agricultural the MAES, the group was able to bring in
College. Beal was also the first person to experts from around the world, and partici-
cross-fertilize corn to increase yield through pants were highly enthusiastic about the con-
hybrid vigor. In 1940, Stanley Johnston, ference and its follow-up work.
superintendent of the MAES field station at Before plant breeders can develop a vari-
South Haven, made history by releasing the ety that is insect- or disease-resistant, they
Redhaven peach variety, an early-ripening, have to find a source of resistance, usually
red-skinned peach he had developed. from a plant from the same or related
Redhaven, the first commercial red-skinned species. Then the scientists have to deter-
peach, was one of 11 Haven peach varieties mine how to cross-breed the plants or isolate
developed at MSU, and it went on to become the responsible genes and move them from
the most widely grown cultivar in the world. one plant to the other. The MAES supports
Michigan growers continue to need new the work of a number of researchers who
varieties to remain competitive, and MAES characterize themselves as filling up the
plant breeders are working on developing toolbox of techniques for use by other scien-
even better, more prolific varieties. MAES tists, such as plant breeders. Many times
plant geneticists and microbiologists also are these scientists isolate genes or genetic path-
creating new tools that plant breeders can ways responsible for desirable traits and then
use when developing these plants. In this develop new techniques to insert the genes
issue of Futures, we feature just a small por- into economically important agricultural
tion of the MAES-supported plant breeding crop plants.
and genetics research. The history of Michigan State University,
Biotechnology is used to improve plants the pioneer land-grant institution, is closely
and make food production more efficient tied to the history of agriculture and natural
and profitable. But because the science is dif- resources. In honor of MSUs 150th anniver-
ficult to understand and often poorly sary, each issue of Futures in 2005 will feature
explained in the media, many people have a special sesquicentennial article highlighting
fears about the technology and its use. The the intersection of MAES and MSU history.
MSU Plant Transformation Center (PTC), one We hope you enjoy this issue of Futures
of nine such centers around the country, is and that it helps you understand more
helping to ease those fears by providing edu- about the MAES and the research it funds. If
cation and information about biotechnology. you have comments or questions or would
The PTC is a hub for biotechnology tech- like to subscribe to Futures (its free!), send
niques at MSU, and one of its goals is to correspondence to Futures Editor, 109
develop biotechnology methods for crops Agriculture Hall, Michigan State University,
advantageous to Michigan agriculture, as well East Lansing, MI 48824-1039, or send an e-
as provide services and training to MSU mail to depolo@msu.edu.
researchers. For the most current information about
Since 1915, MSU plant breeders, many of the MAES, I invite you to subscribe to the free
them supported by the MAES, have released MAES e-mail newsletter. Sign up by visiting
more than 300 varieties of plants, from corn, the MAES Web site at www.maes.msu.edu/
wheat and alfalfa to zinnias, strawberries and news.htm. Scroll to the bottom of the page
spruce trees. Each breeder works closely with and complete the subscription form.
Michigan growers to improve the desirable ::: Jamie DePolo
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futures
MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION ::: Spring 2005 Vol. 23 No.1
25
MAES plant breeders have developed some of the Cover photoilllustration by Christine Altese.
most popular and prolific selections and are working
on even better ones.
As plant breeders at public universities retire, theyre Futures is published quarterly by the Michigan Agricultural Experiment
Station. To receive Futures free of charge write to Futures Editor, 109
not being replaced. The MSU Plant Breeding and
Agriculture Hall, MSU, East Lansing, MI 48824, or call (517) 355-0123.
Genetics Group sponsored an international seminar
Permission to reprint material in this issue is granted, providing the
to help industry and government representatives,
meaning is not changed. Credit given to the publication as the source of
university administrators and scientists tackle the the material is appreciated. Use of trade names is for identification only
question. and does not imply endorsement or criticism of the products.
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Biotechnology
ITIES AND THE RISKS
When presented with the statement, Ordinary tomatoes do not contain genes, while geneti-
cally modified tomatoes do, more than 60 percent of Europeans agreed, according to a 2002
survey by researchers from the London School of Economics. (Every single tomato in the
world contains genes.) The survey also asked respondents to agree or disagree with this state-
ment: By eating a genetically modified fruit, a persons genes could also become modified.
About half of the respondents agreed. (This statement is untrue.) In a 2004 survey by the Rutgers
Food Policy Institute, 64 percent of people in the United States classified themselves as knowing very little or
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nothing at all about genetically modified foods. has been a goal of every recorded civilization on
Earth. Farmers cultivated crops and chose seed
More than 50 percent thought that chicken in the from the best plants to ensure that next years crop
would be as good as or better than the past years.
supermarket had been genetically engineered (this
This science of selection has given us broccoli, cab-
bage, cauliflower and brussels sprouts. An early rel-
ALL THE RISKS NEED TO BE EVALUATED, BUT
ative, Brassica oleracea, grows wild in western and
IN THE CASE OF COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE southern Europe; hundreds of years of careful
selection led to these now common foods. Wheat is
BIOTECH CROPS, THESE HAVE BEEN the result of three wild grasses being interbred.
STUDIED EXTENSIVELY MORE THAN ANY Nectarines are the result of crossing varieties of
peaches and plums. In short, certain types of
CONVENTIONALLY BRED CROP. biotechnology have been occurring for thousands
of years as long as people have been growing
is untrue poultry has not been genetically engi- crops and eating them.
All living things, including the fruits and vegeta-
neered using todays advanced technologies, bles we eat, contain genes that provide the instruc-
tions that tell the cells how to function. The infor-
though traditional breeding has gradually changed mation for many important traits is passed from
generation to generation through genes, which are
the birds genome over time).
made of a large molecule called DNA. Every living
Clearly, most people dont completely under-
thing contains DNA.
stand how genetics work. That fuzziness, coupled
DNA is a strand of genes, much like a strand of
with the many terms surrounding the science
pearls. And the amount of DNA is usually quite spe-
biotechnology, bioengineering, genetic engineer-
cific to a species. For purposes of this example, well
ing, genetic modification, gene splicing, etc. has
say the necklace has 40 pearls in it.
made the practice of improving plants using the sci-
In traditional plant breeding, a scientist crosses
ence controversial to most and quite frightening to
the original plant with another variety that has a
some people.
desirable trait, such as resistance to a disease. But
People dont favor what they dont understand,
the scientist doesnt know which of the genes
said Wayne Loescher, MAES horticulture researcher
(pearls) from each parent plant are in the new off-
and ad hoc member of the MSU Plant
Transformation Center (PTC) Advisory
Committee. Science has sometimes dropped
the ball in explaining biotechnology. Thats
why the educational component of the Plant
Transformation Center is so important. We
have to provide information and resources to
people.
WHAT IS BIOTECHNOLOGY?
You people in the developed world are
certainly free to debate the merits of genetically
modified foods, but can we please eat first?
Florence Wambugu, Kenyan plant breeder
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pesticide poisonings in China have been reduced absolutely that it is 100 percent safe. Because
by 75 percent because of Bt cotton. In the United biotechnology is new, people are unsure what an
States, data from the National Center for Food and acceptable level of risk for it is. For something
Agricultural Policy show that use of Bt corn reduced familiar, such as crossing the street, people accept a
pesticide application by 46 million pounds in 2001. slight risk because they are comfortable with the
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA),
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have estab- BIOTECHNOLOGY IS NOT GOING TO REPLACE
lished regulations that govern the production and TRADITIONAL METHODS IT AUGMENTS THEM.
consumption of biotech foods. These agencies work
with university scientists and other individuals to IT ALLOWS US TO CREATE CROPS THAT CAN
ensure that the regulations are based on sound sci-
BE PRODUCED IN MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY
ence. All the available evidence to date shows that
foods from biotech crops are as safe as foods from FRIENDLY AND SUSTAINABLE WAYS.
non-biotech crops. There have been no reports
documenting illness from biotech foods. This coun- action. But the risk that they could be hit by a car
trys food supply is the safest in the world, but that still exists, even if it is incredibly small.
doesnt mean it is 100 percent safe outbreaks of There is no zero risk, Loescher said. We con-
illness from contamination or spoilage of tradition- sume about 10,000 natural toxins daily. Roasted
ally produced foods still occur. coffee has about 1,000 chemicals. Of 27 tested, 19
People who dont want to eat biotech foods have were carcinogens. Similarly, potatoes, celery, kidney
that choice. They can buy food products that meet beans, peach seeds, cassava and wheat all have tox-
certified organic standards. These standards do not ins in them. But were comfortable with the old and
allow the use of genetically engineered foods or natural and anxious about the new and synthetic.
processing aids. The safety data required by the USDA, EPA and
I think there are definite advantages to biotech- FDA are extensive much more data are required
nology, Loescher said. It offers expedient solutions
that take advantage of the science we now have
available to us. Biotechnology is not going to replace
traditional methods it augments them. It does
allow us to create crops that can be produced in
more environmentally friendly and sustainable
ways.
Its understandable that many people are con-
cerned about biotechnology, he continued. Many
people are unfamiliar with the technology and are
unaware of the safeguards that are in place to pro-
tect the public and the food supply. There is a mis-
trust of the industry; the public needs a strong
assurance of safety and, unfortunately, the scientif-
ic community has not addressed the publics con-
cerns nor effectively communicated the value of
this technology. We hope the Plant Transformation
Center can help with that.
NOTHING IS RISK-FREE
Everything we eat is a poison; it is the dosage that
makes it poisonous!
Paracelsus (1493-1541), Swiss medical scholar
who is considered the father of therapeutic medicine
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on biotechnology crops than on traditionally bred Nutritional data (nutrients, proteins, amino
crops, though the outcomes might be the same. A acids, calories, vitamins, ash, moisture content,
partial list includes: crude protein, crude fat, crude carbohydrates).
Product description (crop and species names; Other safety studies (substantial equivalency
intended technical effect; intended composi- with parental variety, literature review and
tional changes; food use: fresh and/or background, allergenicity, natural toxicants,
processed, feed use; source of the gene and anti-nutritional effects, protein digestibility).
history of its use; gene function). Environmental aspects (field trials at multiple
Molecular characterization. sites, four replicates/site plus isogenic line[s]
Toxicity studies. plus parental variety plus other varieties to
Effects of antibiotic resistance marker genes establish a range of values, biology of the
(analysis of potential horizontal gene transfer crop analysis, outcrossing and gene flow
in humans; analysis of potential horizontal study, gene flow to same species, gene flow to
gene transfer in the environment). related and wild species, disease and insect
resistance changes).
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1880s
Liberty Hyde
Germination and flowering studies. formation since 1987. In 1838, President Andrew Bailey, MAC
Ecological impact (changes in soil degradation; Jackson received a letter from concerned citizens horticulturist,
established the
variations from traditional products; change in demanding that he stop railroad technology. They
first horticulture
farming practices; effects on non-target wrote to the president that railroads were allowing laboratory in the
insects; residual effects on subsequent crops; trains to move with a breakneck speed of 15 miles United States at
MAC. He urged
resistance management program; crop safety per hour, setting crops on fire, scaring women and
that horticulture
study; produce quality; yield studies; and livestock, destroying farm fields and creating other could be
problems. People were scared of these big, noisy advanced by
impact on non-target organisms such as earth-
cross-breeding,
worms, microorganisms, non-target arthro- machines that, yes, occasionally had little prob- hybridization,
pods, grazing birds and mammals). lems. I think thats where we are today with genetic the chance
growth of
To me, biotechnology today is similar to the engineering. The genetic engineering system
seedlings and
railroad in the 1830s, said Mariam Sticklen, profes- appears to be moving very quickly, but were still selection from
sor of crop and soil sciences, who has been using improving and refining it. We need to be proactive wild species.
biotechnology since 1978 and doing genetic trans- and improve this very promising technology.
::: Jamie DePolo
Left to right: Brian Hughes, toxicologist with the Michigan Department of Agriculture; Kirk Heinze, director of Communication and Technology
Services for the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources; and Jim Hancock, MAES small fruit breeder, all serve on the PTC Advisory
Committee. Public education about biotechnology is a big part of the PTC mission.
We have a very big public education mission, added The PTC also maintains close contact with the Michigan
Richard Allison, MAES plant biology and plant pathology sci- Department of Agriculture (MDA). MDA toxicologist Brian
entist. This component is just as important as the on-cam- Hughes serves on the Advisory Committee and believes its
pus technical work. I believe that Michigan can truly benefit appropriate for MSU to take the lead in educating Michigan
from biotechnology. With education, we can turn any criti- residents about biotechnology.
cisms around and help people see the value of the technolo- MSU is a leader and a credible source of information on
gy to the state. biotechnology research and education, he said. The MDAs
As part of its initial education and outreach efforts, the role is to track changes in federal biotechnology regulations
PTC is working with the Michigan Association of Science and the development of new crops, to ensure their accessibil-
Teachers to provide information on biotechnology in general ity and proper use, and to make sure the integrity of non-
and the center in particular. biotech crops is maintained.
We know that people dont know a lot about biotechnol- In the near future, Sink hopes to develop commercial
ogy, said Kirk Heinze, director of Communication and products for the university that can be licensed and use those
Technology Services for the College of Agriculture and funds to help support the center.
Natural Resources, who is also on the PTC Advisory We want to reduce pesticide applications, which helps
Committee and oversees the centers outreach efforts. the environment and makes agriculture more sustainable,
Theres no better target than young people for this informa- he said. We believe we have a role to play, and we have a
tion. One of the things we want to demonstrate to them is vision. Our work supports Michigan agriculture.
biotechnologys role in sustainable agriculture. ::: Jamie DePolo
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reeding and genetics have allowed plant agri- industry and commodity group representatives around the
culture to become more productive, more state to ensure that their breeding programs meet the needs
economical and more environmentally of growers. From Christmas trees to potatoes to cherries to
friendly. Ancient farmers used a form of blueberries to soybeans and other field crops, the scientists
genetic engineering as a tool long before it strive to create crops tailored to the states conditions.
was a science. By selecting seeds from the I think all the breeders on campus would say their pri-
strongest and most disease-resistant plants mary goal is to develop varieties for Michigan needs, said
in their fields and cross-breeding those MAES horticultural researcher Jim Hancock who breeds
plants with plants of other varieties, they gradually blueberries and strawberries. Each crop has different traits
improved their crops. that are desired by our growers, and we work closely with
The science began to evolve in 1865 when Gregor Mendel, them to make sure we meet those needs.
an Austrian botanist and monk, identified what he called New varieties are important to farmers they need
hereditary factors now known as genes. Three years later them to stay competitive with other states in terms of yield
Friedrich Miescher, a Swiss biologist, unknowingly discov- and costs, said Randy Judd, manager of the Michigan Crop
ered DNA deoxyribonucleic acid. In 1876, Charles Darwin Improvement Association (MCIA). The MCIA promotes the
conducted experiments in breeding and published Cross and use of and provides certified seed to Michigan growers for
Self Fertilization in the Vegetable Kingdom. A year after that, field crops such as corn, wheat, oats, soybeans and dry
William Beal, a renowned horticulturist at Michigan beans. Since 1996, potato growers have had their own associ-
Agricultural College (later Michigan State University), estab- ation, the Michigan Seed Potato Association, that certifies
lished the first seed testing laboratory in the United States potato seed.
and was the first person to cross-pollinate corn to increase MSU is a major source of new material for the MCIA; the
yields. His research demonstrated to farmers the advantages university is critically important to our members, Judd said.
of hybrid vigor. We definitely want to encourage the university to continue
Today, MAES plant breeders continue to work closely with to release varieties.
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When Dave
Douches came
to MSU in 1988,
he was a newly
minted genetics
Ph.D. from the University of California-
Davis and had done potato research at
the International Potato Research Center
in Peru. By combining traditional cross-
ing programs and biotechnology,
Douches has released several varieties
over the past 17 years (it takes 10 to 12
years to develop a new potato variety)
MAES scientist Dave Douches strives to create potato varieties with traits desired by growers,
that have good processing traits, more such as excellent storage ability, low sugar content, and resistance to bruise, late blight, scab
uniform size and disease resistance. and Colorado potato beetle.
We have a very active breeding pro-
gram, Douches said. Our pipeline is potatoes in 2003, which added more than scab-resistant, chip-processing variety,
primed and were in the process of releas- $105 million to the states economy, known as MSG227-2, and a late blight-
ing new varieties. Because it takes a while according to the Michigan Agricultural resistant variety, MSJ461-1, are also being
to develop a new variety, we tend to have Statistics Service. Chips are made from considered for release.
round white potatoes, and processors Michigan also has a viable table stock
want very specific traits in these potatoes. potato industry potatoes sold directly
They want low sugar content, bruise to consumers in grocery stores or other
resistance, a high level of solid material markets.
and excellent storage ability, with few or
no defects no marks, spots or holes,
Douches explained. So we start with
that. Growers want potatoes that are
resistant to late blight and scab [two dis-
eases that dramatically reduce the yield
and marketability of potatoes] and the
Colorado potato beetle [a voracious
insect that eats potato plant leaves
and significantly reduces the yield].
Combining all those things in one potato These true potato seeds were extracted from
potatoes grown in Douches research green-
would be the Holy Grail of traits. Were not houses. The seeds are the beginning of a
quite there yet, but were starting to com- new breeding cycle.
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gan Purple in combination with red and the pile are going to succumb to pressure
white potatoes, but it also does quite well bruises, everyone involved wants to know
alone. Its a good-looking potato and before the variety is grown.
gives people options for presenting pota- About five years ago, the MPIC fund-
toes as part of a meal. People like the taste ed the construction of the B.F. Cargill
and its utility in the kitchen. Demonstration Storage Facility next to
Jacqueline Lee, named for Douches the Montcalm Research Farm [the MAES
daughter, is a yellow-flesh potato with field research station that specializes in
late blight resistance. It has a bright, potatoes], Douches explained. Before
This striking purple-fleshed potato is a new
smooth skin and is good for all types of selection in the MSU potato breeding that, we just had some small storage bins.
home cooking. program. Douches says the potatoes will be This is truly a partnership between the
sold at farm markets and used for specialty
It has an excellent taste quality, potato chips.
growers, the processors and the universi-
very similar to Yukon Gold potatoes, ty. The facility allows us to simulate how
Douches said. storage demonstrations to Michigan potatoes are really stored so the farmer
Because storage ability is such an growers and processors. doesnt have to take the risk. Processors
important trait for chip processors, Most commercial storage facilities wont buy bruised potatoes. Storage
Douches works with the Michigan Potato house about 10,000 hundredweight of drives the releases. If a variety doesnt
Industry Commission (MPIC) to provide potatoes. If the spuds on the bottom of store well, it wont work.
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Kelly and his bean breeding team to go to eases are often lethal to other Soldier
Texas and back and delve into DNA to bean varieties. A BEVY OF BLUEBERRIES
unravel its mystery. Redcoat has the best yield potential
The opportunity to commercialize a of any Soldier bean, said Greg Varner,
mutant bean that we never would have research director of the Michigan Dry
worked on directly is a nice surprise, Bean Research Board, who worked with The work of
Kelly. MAES blueber-
What about the possibility of a mix-up ry breeder Jim
in Texas? The scientists inquired and Hancock came
learned that the Texas supplier had hand- to glorious fruition in 2002. He released
picked the beans sent to Michigan. The not one, not two but three blueberry vari-
entire batch contained nothing but beans eties that year. Before that, the last blue-
with the familiar, uniform red coloring. berry variety released from MSU was in
Its true that most living organisms 1977 a gap of 25 years.
carry two copies of each gene. With other These blueberries were developed
explanations ruled out, the scientists specifically for Michigan needs,
began suspecting that one copy of the Hancock explained. Michigan growers
bean color gene had mutated. They get the most money for their blueberries
thought that the other gene had at the end of the season because were the
remained normal and still contained last state that has berries left. So one of
instructions for making red beans. Often, our goals was to develop varieties that
one normal gene is enough to mask the were late-maturing. We also wanted to
The Redcoat beans distinctive coloring is due
to a random genetic mutation. The bean has effects of a mutation. This would explain make sure they stored well.
a red kidney beans valuable attributes. why all the Texas seeds were red. Until Hancocks releases, Michigan
Random mutations, changes in DNA blueberry growers had one late-maturing
structure in the cells of a living organism, variety, Elliott. Elliott produced very high
given that bean variety development is happen all the time. Most mutations have yields, but it wasnt very flavorful and
usually a 10-year program, Kelly said. no effect on the organism or its offspring; could be sour. Growers also had one
The Redcoat bean is a Soldier bean. some prove harmful to the organism. major midseason-maturing variety,
Soldier beans are so named because their Only a small fraction of mutations turn Bluecrop, which had average fruit quality
red markings look like the uniforms worn out to be advantageous. In this case, the but didnt store very well.
by 18th century European soldiers. In big advantage is for bean lovers who Hancocks three new releases are:
1999, MAES scientists obtained seeds for might see an unusually attractive red and Liberty named after groundbreak-
basic red kidney beans from a Texas sup- white bean in their local markets within ing Michigan Agricultural College
plier. Researchers planted the seeds in the next few years. horticulturist Liberty Hyde Bailey,
northern Michigan, and most of the plants It took several years work in campus the man who established the first
did, in fact, produce the expected red greenhouses, but Kelly finally confirmed horticulture lab in the United States
beans. A small fraction, however, pro- his suspicions: the new coloring was (Hancock said he also likes the patri-
duced beans with striking white splotches. indeed the result of a rare beneficial otism of the name). Liberty matures
The researchers first suspected that mutation of a single gene in the beans slightly earlier than Elliott (about five
the coloring had an ordinary explanation DNA. days) but is still considered a late
perhaps stray seeds from white bean The single gene mutation of seed coat variety. It also has much better fruit
plants had gotten mixed in with the seeds color pattern means that an entirely new quality.
in Texas or maybe the beans had cross- class has the same valuable attributes Aurora a name suggested by
pollinated with fields of white bean present in the commercial red kidney Hancocks wife, Ann, manager of the
plants nearby. bean class that breeders have worked on MSU Delapa Perennial Garden, after
But when the MAES team searched the for more than 100 years at MSU, Kelly Aurora borealis, the northern lights.
area in northern Michigan where the new said. Its somewhat ironic that one of the Aurora matures about five days later
red and white beans turned up, they most successful bean varieties in the his- than Elliott and can be stored longer.
found no cross-pollination suspects. And tory of Michigan agriculture is the Sanilac It also has better fruit quality than
when they infected the plants with two navy bean, developed through mutation Elliott.
common bean diseases, the Redcoat breeding on the MSU campus. Redcoat is Draper named after highly
beans behaved more like other red kidney the result of a natural rare mutation that acclaimed USDA blueberry breeder
beans than white or Soldier beans. proved to be beneficial. Arlen Draper. Draper matures during
Over the years, red kidney beans have the early midseason, a little ahead of
been bred to resist mosaic virus and 1928 Eldon Down, MAC plant scientist, Bluecrop. But it has much better
introduced hybridized Spartan barley
anthracnose. Redcoat proved immune to fruit quality and flavor and can be
to Michigans grain industry.
infection as well, even though these dis- stored much longer than Bluecrop.
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The three are the first major varieties After his triple success in 2002, level of antioxidants. Blueberries are
released in 10 years and will grow well Hancock isnt resting on his laurels. Hes known to have high levels of antioxidants,
everywhere blueberries are grown now, continuing to work on creating an even plant compounds that may help reduce
including all parts of the United States, better blueberry. cancer risk, slow down destructive cell
South America and Europe. What do I do for a follow-up? he
Licensing agreements have been asked rhetorically. My goal is to replace
drawn up through the MSU Office of these varieties eventually. I want to devel-
Intellectual Property and the varieties op more varieties with Drapers storage
are being sold around the world. But capabilities. Liberty and Aurora have
everyone at MSU emphasized that the some flaws that can be improved upon.
needs of Michigan producers were con- Im continuing to make crosses and have
sidered first. some selections that are going into repli-
We are very sensitive to Michigan cated trials.
growers concerns, Hancock said. We Hancock also has a fourth selection
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searching for natural resistance to ago. The disease cant be controlled with
CONSUMMATE Phytophthora. chemicals, and crop rotation and other
CUCURBITS Unfortunately, our screening of vari- cultural practices dont seem to help
eties and wild relatives has not identified much, either.
a source of resistance that can be used for
Michigan is the breeding, Grumet said.
countrys No. 1 Because the leaves and stems arent
producer of pick- infected, Grumet is looking into whether
ling cucumbers changing the architecture of the plant
the 181,000 tons might work to limit the disease by making
produced in 2003 conditions less favorable for the fungus to
added more than $36 million to the states grow. The researchers hypothesized that
economy. Like many cucurbit (pumpkin, if they could open up the canopy of the
squash and gourd) crops, cucumbers can plant and at the same time get the fruit up
suffer severe yield losses from the fungus- off the ground, they might be able to
like organism Phytophthora capsici. In reduce plants susceptibility to disease.
cucumber fields, the vines can look excel- There also seems to be an age effect
lent, but the fruit located underneath the as the cucumbers get older, theyre not
vines can be infected. Dark, water-soaked as susceptible, Grumet said. We want to
lesions develop first, followed by a dis- find out why and whether those changes
tinctive layer of spores that look like pow- can be used to help make more resistant
cucumbers.
In melons, Grumet is studying how the
hormone ethylene may help cantaloupe
growers produce more fruit from plants.
Cucurbit crops have separate male
and female flowers. Only female flowers
make fruit, and plants usually make male
flowers first probably because it takes
more energy to make fruit, Grumet sug-
gested. Because the female flowers
appear later on the plant, it takes more MAES horticulture researcher Rebecca
Grumet studies cucumbers, melons and other
time for the plants to produce fruit, which cucurbit crops, and celery. In celery, she is
means a longer growing season for pro- working to develop varieties resistant to
fusarium yellows, a fungal disease.
ducers.
In cucumbers, there is a gene for
femaleness, Grumet explained. This Working with former MAES plant
In cucurbit crops such as melons, only female allows for a shorter growing season and pathologist Mel Lacy, Grumet used a com-
flowers make fruit. Ethylene appears to play more uniform fruit set. But theres not an bination of tissue culture and traditional
a role in the development of female flowers
research has shown that plants engineered equivalent gene in melons. The gene in breeding to produce some fusarium-
to make more ethylene make more female cucumbers causes the plant to make resistant celery lines, but the plants had
flowers.
more of the plant hormone ethylene. We short stalks, a less than desirable trait in
wanted to see whether we could cause a current markets. Grumet and Hausbeck
dered sugar on the surface of the fruit. similar effect in melons. are trying to introduce increased height
Fruit infection may occur days before the To test her theory, Grumet inserted a into the resistant varieties.
symptoms become visible, and the fun- gene into the cantaloupe plants that I think well probably be able to
gus can spread rapidly through warm, cause them to produce more ethylene. release two breeding lines in a couple
wet fields. Rebecca Grumet, MAES horti- The plants had more female flowers and years that will have good resistance and
culture researcher, and Mary Hausbeck, set fruit earlier. Grumet is now studying quality, Grumet said. The lines we are
MAES plant pathologist, have been how to direct the gene specifically to the working with have two sources of resist-
flowers so the plant is not always making ance, which is good in case the fungus
extra ethylene. overcomes one of them. Some of the lines
1933 Michigan became the leading state
In celery, Grumet is again working seem to lose their resistance after a few
in the production of processed apple
with Hausbeck to tackle fusarium yel- years. Were hoping ours wont.
juice after scientists discovered that apple juice
could be clarified with pectinol A, an enzyme. lows, a fungal disease. Fusarium yellows,
MAC scientists developed the procedure for
flash pasteurization of apple juice, which
a long-time problem for celery growers,
became the accepted standard. threatened to wipe out the celery indus-
try in Michigan and California 15 years
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This suggested that the nearly com- Today, Iezzoni is using that germ
THE CHERRY plete crop loss that producers experi- plasm to breed new cherry varieties that
CHALLENGE enced in 2002 would have been greatly have traits desired by Michigan growers.
reduced if the industry had been growing Were breeding for a late flower bloom
an array of varieties, Iezzoni said. The to avoid frost damage if the flower isnt
As the only goal of my program is to take the risk out there, it cant be damaged, she explained.
publicly supported of cherry production for growers and We also want consistent production and
cherry breeder and increase their profits. resistance to cherry leaf spot.
geneticist in the When Iezzoni came to MSU in 1981, Caused by a fungus, cherry leaf spot is
entire United States, MAES scientist Amy she had to create a tart cherry breeding the No. 1 disease problem in tart cherries,
Iezzoni balances an incredible amount of program from scratch. After evaluating both in cost and decreased production.
work on her slender shoulders. In addi- the tart cherry cultivars available for The disease is extremely difficult to con-
tion to conducting a tart cherry breeding breeding, Iezzoni was quickly disappoint- trol during wet spring months.
program (which is the top priority), she ed. There was nothing better than Other characteristics that Iezzoni
searches for and evaluates dwarfing root- Montmorency available to breed with. If wants to incorporate include firmer fruit
stocks for sweet cherries, and provides
genetics and genomics expertise for both
sweet and tart cherries.
Breeding tart cherries is so important
because the entire tart cherry industry in
the country is based on one variety:
Montmorency, a 400-year-old variety
from France, Iezzoni explained. Since
Michigan produces 75 percent of the
nations tart cherries, the state would
benefit greatly from new varieties.
The industrys vulnerability because of
its dependence on Montmorency was
harshly underscored on the night of April
21, 2002. Temperatures plummeted,
freezing cherry flowers and reducing pro-
duction to only 2 percent of what it nor-
mally is, the lowest level since 1945. The
MAES horticulture scientist Amy Iezzoni is the only publicly supported cherry breeder and
industry was devastated. geneticist in the United States. Here she hand pollinates her test plots at the Northwest Michigan
To see if more diversity would have Horticulture Research Station in Traverse City.
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Rain around the time of wheat flowering well here. Its a win for growers; its
is one of the main causes the fungi like opened up a huge diversity for them.
the damp, warm conditions. The organ- Ward is also studying the genomic
isms that cause scab are the same ones structure of wheat, which has one of the
that rot cornstalks left in the field. largest genomes of any living thing. At
We have a lot of scab in Michigan and about 16.9 billion base pairs, the wheat
much of the Midwest because there is so genome is nearly five times the size of the
much corn stubble in the fields, Ward human genome. As scientists work to
said. The fungi stay in the fields on the characterize this enormous collection of
stubble and then infect the next crop. The genetic material, the first step is to map
East has no areas that are safe from scab. out where so-called marker proteins go
Besides reducing yield and grain qual- along the sequence.
ity, scab also leaves behind mycotoxins, Its somewhat akin to looking at a road
which can cause diseases in animals and map. If you were going to travel on I-75,
may be harmful to humans. Wheat must you would need to know the order of the
be tested for mycotoxins. If they are exits and where and how far apart they
found, its value drops dramatically. are before you could figure out where to
Ward is also looking for a breeding stop. Adding more markers to the wheat
solution to sprouting, another problem genome map makes it easier for scientists
identified by growers. Sprouting happens to orient themselves as they seek to iden-
when rainy weather occurs just before or tify genes responsible for specific traits.
after harvest. The starch and protein in As you make the marker map denser,
the wheat start to break down and can theres a greater likelihood youll find
significantly reduce the quality of the genes, Ward explained.
In addition to developing new varieties, grain. Ward and his colleagues Perry Cregen,
MAES wheat breeder Rick Ward has helped
add more than 540 marker proteins to the Almost all white wheat varieties are of the Beltsville Agriculture Research
wheat genome. susceptible to sprouting if it rains, Ward Center, and Bikram Gill, of Kansas State
explained. On the other hand, most red University, have added more than 540
varieties resist sprouting. We are actively markers to the map a dramatic
heavy bran in breakfast cereals. The flours
using sprout resistance genes in our
of both red and white varieties are used
breeding program and now have
for crackers, cookies, pastries and many
other products. them in advanced lines, including
Michigan primarily grows winter one poised for release.
wheat the crop is planted in the fall As part of his breeding work, Ward
and then harvested the next summer. runs the state variety trials for his
About 40 to 50 percent of the wheat crop. Each year he compares all the
grown in Michigan is white wheat, partly entered varieties and posts the
because of the large cereal company results online and also distributes
located in Battle Creek. them through Michigan Farm Bureau
Growers want a wheat that has good so growers and seed producers have
grain quality and would like it to be a guide to yields and disease resist-
resistant to some of the 10 diseases that ance. Because most Michigan wheat
wheat succumbs to scab is seen as the is planted in the fall and harvested Michigan produces mainly winter wheat, which is
planted in the fall and harvested the next summer.
biggest threat, Ward said. Were moving the next summer, its imperative that
to release a white wheat that is more Ward gets the results to growers
resistant to scab. There is no such thing quickly. increase over the fewer than 2,000 mark-
as a white wheat that is totally resistant We publish the variety trial results in ers that were known when they began
to scab. August, and growers are planting what we their work. All their markers begin with
Also known as fusarium head blight, just analyzed in September, Ward said. the letters BARC, which stand for
scab is caused by several species of fungi. We can analyze the data about a half- Beltsville Agricultural Research Center,
hour after cutting so growers can make where the markers were generated. The
the decisions right away. labs of Ward and Gill had the task of dis-
1938-42 Donald Cation, Michigan State The state was dominated by two vari- covering the position of BARC markers.
College (MSC) plant pathologist,
eties, Frankenmuth and Augusta [also The BARC markers closed many gaps
conducted research on fruit tree disease control.
Cation was the first to demonstrate virus trans- developed at MSU] until about 1990, he in the previous wheat maps, and the
mission through soil, and he established virus continued. Now we have much greater denser map is enabling scientists around
indexing procedures and the use of virus-free
clones and their distribution to nurseries.
diversity and better yields. Interestingly, the world to identify the position of per-
varieties from Kentucky and Virginia do formance-critical wheat genes, Ward
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said. Im very proud to have had this giving the trees even a 1- or 2-week longer
MSC scientists bred apricot varieties
opportunity. I doubt I will ever make dormant period, researchers may be able 1939
that could be grown in Michigan.
another contribution this big to wheat to prevent severe damage and loss from Until this time, 90 percent of the U.S. crop was
genetics. spring frosts and freezes, like the one that grown in California.
projects.
Were trying to understand the genes third in the nation in the number of genetically engineer a tree to grow to only
that trigger trees annual growth cycle Christmas trees grown and second in a certain height and have a certain num-
move it in and out of dormancy, Han acreage devoted to the growing of ber of branches a designer tree to meet
said. Day length plays a role, as does Christmas trees. the needs of todays very particular con-
temperature. We want to know which Christmas trees also play a role in sumers.
specific genes control dormancy and environmentally friendly land use and But thats down the road a little bit,
hope to identify them in about 2 years. farmland preservation. Tree farmers Han said. Its not available yet. But once
This work, too, will have economic and plant trees for a holiday season 7 to 10 we have the technology, well be able to
environmental implications, especially years in the future. For every tree harvest- do it.
for the Michigan tree fruit industry. By ed, up to three are planted. As Christmas ::: Jamie DePolo and Geoff Koch
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Filling Up
the Toolbox
BEFORE MAES POTATO BREEDER DAVE DOUCHES CAN DEVELOP A POTATO VARIETY THAT MAES scientists are creating
is resistant to scab, either he or another scientist has to find a plant that is
already resistant to the disease. Then scientists have to determine how to biotechnology tools to help
cross-breed a potato plant with the resistant plant. They might try to deter-
mine the gene or genes responsible for the resistance, isolate them and other scientists improve crops
then try to insert them into a potato plant through a variety of methods. At
Michigan State University, the MAES supports the work of a number of sci- and the environment
entists who characterize themselves as filling up the toolbox of biotech-
nology techniques for use by other scientists, such as plant breeders.
I use biotechnology to attempt to solve problems that are either impos-
sible or close to impossible to solve through traditional plant breeding,
said Mariam Sticklen, professor of crop and soil sciences, who has been
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using biotechnology since 1978. She has developed systems to a protein in saliva that kills the virus, Sticklen said. A company
genetically engineer crops such as potatoes, rice and turfgrasses in California has found the gene for making that protein.
to improve their resistance to insects and diseases as well as their The company has been able to produce small quantities of the
tolerance to salt and drought. By boosting resistance to pests and protein, which retails at an extremely high price $500 per
drought, biotechnology allows producers to reduce the amount microgram. Because the protein is so expensive, no large-scale
of pesticides and irrigation water they apply, which helps the studies have been done on its ability to prevent or control the
environment and saves money. spread of HIV. But Sticklen and other scientists are intrigued.
When the protein is manufactured, it loses its shape, so the
CAN A CORN PLANT BECOME A MINI company has to go back in and reshape it, which is very expensive
ETHANOL PLANT? and contributes to the proteins high cost, Sticklen said. Were
One of Sticklens current projects is attempting to engineer attempting to put it into corn, and we think that it will keep its
corn leaves to make the enzymes needed for ethanol production. shape there. Just to be sure, were adding another bit of genetic
Ethanol can be made from any plant material that contains material that will help.
enough sugar or materials that can be converted into sugar, such The techniques that Sticklen develops could potentially be
as starch or cellulose. Corn grain contains starch that is relatively used to add value to any crop with a relatively large amount of
easy to convert into sugar. To produce ethanol, corn is ground biomass that is thrown away as waste. Several other scientists are
and then its starch is converted into sugar. The sugar is then fer- working on various aspects of the research. Hesham Oraby, a doc-
mented into ethanol. However, corn as grain or starch is already toral student from Egypt, is attempting to insert the genes that
valuable. produce the enzymes necessary for ethanol production into rice.
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them into crops grown for food were looking at specialty crops
that arent used for food, such as crambe and flax and possibly
tobacco. Crambe might be similar to canola agriculturally.
The fatty acid in Sterculia foetida is unusually reactive,
Ohlrogge said, and he thinks it would be used in lubricants and
plastics. It is just one of the fatty acids that Ohlrogges lab has
worked on over the years.
Isolating the genes is the easy part, he said. Getting them to
work efficiently in plants and producing a new type of crop is the
difficult part. It may require about 10 more years before we will
see large-scale commercial production. However, the potential
markets in the chemical industry are enormous.
Polymers and plastics made from plants not only offer farmers
higher value for their crops, they are often biodegradable, so
using and disposing of this type of oil would be far less taxing on
the environment than a non-biodegradable product. Ohlrogge
thinks that in the future, outboard motor oil, snowmobile oil and
chainsaw oil will be based on plant oils to protect the environ-
ment.
There are some biodegradable chainsaw oils available now,
he said. They are now required in some places mainly in
Europe. In the future, Michigan might require that only
biodegradable oil can be used on state forest and park land to
keep our water and forests clean.
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The following is the most complete listing of varieties developed at MSU that has been compiled so far.
CROP VARIETY YEAR RELEASED CROP VARIETY YEAR RELEASED CROP VARIETY YEAR RELEASED
Alfalfa Hardigan 1920 Carrot Spartan Fancy 80 1981 Corn (Hybrids) Michigan 250 1951
Webfoot 1989 Spartan Premium 80 1981 Michigan 350 1951
Big Ten 1990 Spartan Winner 80 1981 Michigan 480 1952
Michigan 570 1953
Apple Rootstock MARK 1982 Cauliflower Green Ball 1971 Michigan 160 1955
Self-Blanche 1973 Michigan 420 1955
Michigan 430 1955
Apricot Goldcot 1967 White Empress 1979
Michigan 475 1955
Traverse 1978 Stovepipe 1980 Michigan 300 1958
Michigan 370 1960
Barley (Spring) Michigan Black Barbless 1918 Celery Michigan Golden 1933 Michigan 425 1960
Michigan Two Row 1918 Michigan State Green Gold 1951 Michigan 490 1960
Spartan 1918 Spartan 162 1958 Michigan 620 1960
Bay 1945 Golden Spartan 1974 Michigan 400 1962
Coho 1969 Michigan 270 1963
Bowers 1975 Corn (Open-pollinated) Duncan 1920 Michigan 550 1965
Michigan 402-2X 1965
M.A.C. Yellow Dent 1922
Michigan 280 1966
Barley (Winter) Michigan Barley 1914 Polar Dent 1927
Michigan 500-2X 1966
Cass 1969 Michigan 463-3X 1967
Lakeland 1969 Corn (Inbreds) MS 24 1954 Michigan 200 1967
Norwind 1972 MS 206 1954 Michigan 275-2X 1968
Odin 1973 MS 109 1957 Michigan 568-3X 1968
MS 111 1957 Michigan 510-2XHLHT 1969
Begonia Spartan Beauty 1993 MS 121 1957 Michigan 555-3X 1969
MS 125 1957 380-3X 1970
Black Bean Domino 1981 MS 126 1957 511-3X 1971
572-3X 1971
Black Magic 1981 MS 24A 1958
396-3X 1971
Blackhawk 1988 MS 12 1958 333-3X 1972
Raven 1993 MS 116 1961 410-2X 1972
Phantom 1999 MS 211 1961 560-2X 1972
Jaguar 2000 MS 1334 1962 407-2X 1974
Condor 2004 MS 4 1963 575-2X 1974
MS 106 1963 2013 1975
Blueberry Keweenaw 1951 MS 107 1963 2833 1975
Bluehaven 1967 MS 132 1963 2853 1975
3093 1975
Northland 1967 MS 213 1963
5443 1975
Tophat 1977 MS 214 1963
3102 1976
Bluejay 1978 MS 57 1969 4122 1976
Aurora 2002 MS 80 1969 5802 1976
Draper 2002 MS 92 1969 5922 1979
Liberty 2002 MS 93 1969 477 1980
MS 100 1969
Broccoli Spartan Early 1960 MS 140 1969 Cranberry Bean Michigan Improved Cranberry 1969
MS 142 1969 Cardinal 1982
Carrot MSU 1558 1963 MS 141 1970 Coral 2005
MSU 3489 1963 MS 68 1972
Cucumber (Pickling) National Pickle 1929
Spartan Bonus 1969 MS 153 1972
Spartan Dawn 1963
Spartan Sweet 1969 MS 145 1972
Spartan Champion 1964
Spartan Delite 1971 MS103 1972 Spartan Reserve 1964
Spartan Fancy 1971 MS 70 1975 Spartan Progress 1967
MSU 1558A 1971 MS 71 1975 Spartan Advance 1968
MSU 1558B 1971 MS 72 1975 Spartan Valor 1968
MSU 5986B 1971 MS 74 1979 Spartan Salad 1972
Spartan North 1972 MS 200 1979 Spartan Jack 1973
Spartan Classic 1976 MS 221 1988 MSU 305 M ?
Spartan Premium 1976 MS 222 1988 MSU 183 C 1973
Spartan Magic 1981
Spartan Winner 1976 MS 223 1988
Spartan Pride 1981
MSU 872A 1976 MS 224 1988
Spartan Spirit 1981
MSU 872B 1976 MS 225 1988 Spartan Wonder 1981
MSU 5988C 1976
Spartan Delux 1977 Corn (Hybrids) Michigan 561 (T) 1936 Grasses Wintergreen Chewings Fescue 1969
Spartan Bonus 80 1981 Michigan 1218 (T) 1936 Tetrelite Annual Ryegrass 1969
Spartan Classic 80 1981 Michigan 21A (T) 1939 Beaumont Meadow Fescue 1969
Spartan Delite 80 1981 Michigan 20D 1943
Spartan Delux 80 1981 Michigan 29D 1943 Great Northern Bean Alpine 1992
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CROP VARIETY YEAR RELEASED CROP VARIETY YEAR RELEASED CROP VARIETY YEAR RELEASED
Great Northern Bean Matterhorn 1998 Onion Spartan Sleeper 1974 Snapdragon Tahiti White 1952
Spartan Banner 80 1980
Kalanchoe Michigan State 1942 Sweet Sandwich 1982 Soldier Bean Redcoat 2004
Spartan Supreme 1997
Kidney Bean (Dark Red) Charlevoix 1961 Soybean Dimon 1989
Montcalm 1974 Peach Halehaven 1932 Felix 1990
Isles 1993 Kalhaven 1938 Apollo 1992
Red Hawk 1997 Redhaven 1946 Olympus 1993
Fairhaven 1946 Titan 1998
Kidney Bean (Light Red) Manitou 1967 Richhaven 1955 Skylla 2004
Mecosta 1974 Sunhaven 1955
Isabella 1981 Suncling 1961 Spruce Tree Spartan Spruce 1982
Chinook 1991 Cresthaven 1963
Glohaven 1963 Strawberry Scarlet 1978
Kidney Bean (White)/Alubia Beluga 1998 Jayhaven 1976
Spartancling 1976 Sugar Beet USH20 1971
Lettuce Great Lakes 1942 Sweethaven 1976
USH23 1981
Newhaven 1978
Tendergreen 1955 SR80 1993
MSU II 7(26) 1999
Spartan Lakes 1968 SR97 2003
Chesibb 1969
Pear Spartlet 1972
Domineer 1972 Tomato Victor 1941
Superbib 1980 Early Chatham 1943
Pepper Spartan Emerald 1964
Spartan Hybrid 1943
Lima Bean Spartan Freezer 1968 Spartan Garnet 1968 Spartan Red 8 1961
Frommage 1972 Spartan Pink 10 1962
Muskmelon Superb Golden 1939 Sonnette 1974 Moto-Red 1968
Spartan Rock 1958 Spartan Ruler 1976 Droplet 1971
MSU 1C 1969 Rapids 1971
Petunia Mary Michie 1993 Mini-Spartan 1980
Navy Bean Robust 1915
Michelite 1937 Pinto Bean Sierra 1989 Wheat Red Rock 1913
Sanilac 1956 Aztec 1992 Berkeley Rock 1922
Seaway 1960 Kodiak 1998 Baldrock 1932
Saginaw 1961 Ionia 1969
Gratiot 1964 Pink Bean Sedona 2005 Tecumseh 1973
Seafarer 1968 Frankenmuth 1979
Tuscola 1973 Popcorn Michigan Popcorn No. 1 1958 Augusta 1979
Swan Valley 1981 Michigan Popcorn 1-A 1958 Hillsdale 1983
Neptune 1981 Chelsea 1992
C-20 1982 Potato Pontiac 1939 Lowell 1993
Laker 1983 Onaway 1956 Mendon 1993
Mayflower 1988 Tawa 1957 Ramrod 1996
Huron 1993 Arenac 1961 Bavaria 1998
Newport 1994 Emmet 1961 MSUD6234 2003
Mackinac 1997 Russet Arenac 1965 MSUD8006 2004
Seahawk 2003 Saginaw Gold 1988
Michigold 1989 Zinnia Spartan Rainbow 1993
Oats Alexander 1911 Spartan Pearl 1991
College Success 1916 Jacqueline Lee 2002
Wolverine 1916 Michigan Purple 2003
Worthy 1917 Liberator 2002
Huron 1938 Boulder 2003
Eaton 1945 Beacon Chipper 2005
Kent 1947
Bonham 1947 Raspberry Early Red 1951
Jackson 1954
Coachman 1964 Red Bean Merlot 2003
AuSable 1964
Heritage 1976 Rye Rosen 1912
Pacer 1988 Wheeler 1970
MI-88-0-30 1995
Ida 1997 Snap Bean Spartan Arrow 1963
Ruby 1997 Spartan Pride 1974
Green Ruler 1976
Onion Michigan Sweet Spanish 1945 Spartan Ruler 1976
Spartan 1957 Golden Ruler 1979
Spartan Era 1963
Spartan Gem 1963 Snapdragon Spartan Bronze 1952
Spartan Banner 1966 Spartan Rose 1952
Spartan Bounty 1966
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futures directory
Associate Professor of Plant Biology Michigan Department of Agriculture
and Plant Pathology P.O. Box 30017
368 Plant Biology Building Lansing, MI 48909
517-432-1548 517-241-3267
allison@msu.edu HughesB9@michigan.gov
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The Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station is an equal opportunity employer and complies with
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. 6-05 5 M