2018 ASHS Annual Conference

The development of a website and integrated databases that will house both pecan genomic data and phenotypic data is one of the deliverables for the USDA NIFA SCRI “Coordinated development of genetic tools for pecan” initiative. The modern US commercial pecan industry developed from the native pecan forest in North America, distributed from Illinois and Iowa south to Oaxaca, Mexico. During the past 30 years, open pollinated seeds from pecan and other Carya species were collected from the wild to represent the native region and planted at two USDA sites. These collections have been characterized for a number of phenotypic traits including inception and duration of growth, disease resistance, nutrient uptake and leaf morphology, and nut quality. Both collections represent the diverse native population with different phenotypic and genotypic characteristics that are invaluable to the industry, making these repositories a national treasure for one of America’s most important tree species. An ArcGis geodatabase supported by BG-base is being implemented that houses the historic origination records and phenotypic data that represent collections of NCGR Carya and this database will connect to GRIN Global. The centralized pecan toolbox will allow for accessibility to the phenotypic and genomic data being generated for the pecan and other Carya accessions in the repository. The genomic data includes high resolution genome sequences, genome wide association studies, and RNA-Seq data. We will discuss the formation and implementation of the pecan toolbox that will become an industry-owned website.