Cornell, GENEVA, N.Y. - PM Fore line and Herb Aldwincklc work like Johnny Applcseed, collecting and sowing apple seeds for future generations. In the last decade, they have traveled thousands of miles by bus, jeep, helicopter, and foot to bring back apple seeds for breeding and species preservation from wild apple forests in Central Asia and China. “Prospecting for apple DNA is like prospecting for green gold,” said Forelinc. “The gold mine we brought back from our most recent trip to Turkey weighed less than a pound, took centuries to form, and over 3,500 miles to collect” In the space of a small sack, they collected more than 30,000 wild apple seeds from 62 different wild specimens, containing DNA with enough genetic potential to improve the commercial apple for centuries to come. “Wild getmplastn is critical in maintaining diversity in the gene pool,” explained Fotsline, who is the curator of the apple collection at the USDA-ARS Plant Genetics Resources Unit (PGRU) in Gene va. If a new strain of disease or insect comes along that decimates current commercial varieties like Mclntosh or Gala, few instance, gertnplasm that has evolved desir able traits through natural selec tion might provide genes for resis tance that could be bred into future varieties. “We don’t know what the threats from diseases, insect pests and other biological or physical hazard will be in the future, but having as broad an array as possi ble of different apple genes to draw on is an excellent way of forearm ing us,” said Aktorndkle,aCocndl University plant pathologist and apple rootstock breeder who works at the New York State Agricultural Experiment- Station in Geneva. The party of two Americans and five Turkish scientists took part in a three-week expedition through Turkey in September to expand the apple collection at Geneva, hi par ticular they were looking for Malus orien tails. Present cultivars of the commercial apple (Malus x domestics) have a narrow genetic base, according to Forslinc, and are more closely related to Malus sieversii which the group collected in Kazakstan and China. In general, the quality of M. nrientalis is not as good for eating as M. sieversii. The apples tend to be smaller roughly one inch in diameter compared to sieversii which are an inch to three inches in diameter and very sour to astringent in taste. But, some of the apples looked “very clean,” said Forsline, “and may be a source of new disease or pest resistance.” The scientists had not expected the diversity they found. The group sport from two and one-half to three days in each of six provinces in northeast Turkey over a period of three weeks. The germ plasm prospecting trek took them through primitive villages and wild forests in die mountains, at 3,000 to 7,000 feet above sea level, within SO miles of the Black Sea. They traveled on the fringe of the area devasted in August’s earth quake, and right through the area hit in November. The trek roughly followed the Silk Route that linked China and Central Asia with the Middle East and Western Europe. Scientists believe apples originated in Centr al Asia, were brought to Europe by nomads, and spice and silk traders. USDA Prospect For ‘Green Gold ’ In Turkey and adopted by local farmers along the way. Various specimens then co-cvolved over the ensuring cen turies in response to local environ mental stresses. By collecting samples from these remote reg ions, the researchers hope to expand the collection of wild genes-genes that may contain important new traits such as pest or disease resistance. “Some of the trees we saw were 100 to 300 years old, three and one-half feet in diameter, and 40 feet tall,” said Forelinc. He and Aldwinckle believe the gene pool in Turkey has dimin ished to one to two percent of the population that it was SO years ago. Like many scientists, they believe the diversity of the world's gene pool is being lost to encroaching development andagriculturc “a depleted resource,” said Forelinc and apple genes are no exception. As is true in the other collecting sites in the former Soviet Union and China, villagers have intensi fied their land use for grazing and crops and have cut down much woodland for agricultural pur poses or firewood, hi Turkey, for instance, apple wood is a favorite among the native farmers who use it to make plows. The few trees that have been left were probably particularly prolific or good tasting fruit trees, said Forslinc. “We visited lots of little vil lages, where the populations tanged from 200 to 2000,” said Fotsline. Except for the satellite dishes outside their houses, the people lived a very primitive agri cultural lifestyle. There were some tractors, but horses were still used to thresh beans and plow fields. Collecting Wild Seeds The scientists* methods of col lection ate based on past experi ence and capitalize on accumulated knowledge. They also rely on input from native researchers and guides. Tim Momol, a former research associate of Aldwinckle’s who is from Turkey, helped arrange the trip. The main guide was Dr. Hik met Saygili, a bacteriologist from the Aegean University in Izmir Acquiring a critical mass of gcrmplasm is deliberate and pain staking work. When the patty found a likely prospect, they col lected 200 fruit from the particular tree. Each night after dinner, they sat around a table with their pocket knives, carefully sliced open the apples theyhad collected that day, removed the 1 to IS seeds con tained in each fruit, and dried the seeds on a piece of newspaper overnight They transported the seeds in carefully marked paper envelopes where they continued to “breathe,” and opened them to the air for the next several evenings until they woe dry. In tire Turkish climate, drying took only two to three days, hr addition, cuttings or scions of local varieties were collected. “The biggest mistake most col lectors make is keeping seeds and scions too moist," said Fbrsline. It is not a good idea to store scions in a damp paper towel, for instance. The group had permits from the Turkish government and the USDA to bring seeds and scions back to the U.S. As part of the agreement with their hosts, the Turkish scientists took one-quarter of all the seeds for their own research purposes. Evaluation seedlings for apple scab, cedar In addition to holding seeds in a PP Ie "*•» flre bU « ht > Phytophtho long-tcnn cold storage at PGRU “• “ d powdery mildew. ComeU and Fort Collins, Colo, (at the entomologist Harvey Rcissig will National Seed Storage Laborat- con f, uct sbldies , to compare the ory), the seeds will be carefully seedlings for resistance to apple germinated and then evaluated for “od codling moth. In addi disease and pest resistance, and d(m > cooperatocs will look at cold vegetative traits such as growth haziness, tolerance to mild chill habit and vigor. When the trees mgforproductronareas with warm fruit, the apples will be evaluated winters, late bloom, tolerance to for size, color, texture, aroma «nH drought, and sunburn resistance, flavor. More than 50 scientists and Preliminary results should be technicians in sites all over the available in about six years, world are involved in the project. Through molecular tests, as they have been with the seeds researchers are also now able to from the earlier collecting trips. characterize the entire gene map of In Geneva, Aldwinckle will each apple to determine their parti spearhead the effort to evaluate the cular genetic makeup and ensure ruy. sell, trade PHONE: 717-626-1164 or 717-394-3047 FAX 717-733-6058 Mon., Tues., Wed., Fri. 8 AM to 5 PM; Thurs. 7 AM to 5 PM FARM EQUIPMENT Dunham Lehr 22 loader w/72" bucket, very good shape, fits IH tractor 685 or 574, or AC 170 thru 185 models, $2OOO. 570/437-2811. Corn silage roller mill, 18”x9" solid rolls. JD 444 corn head. 610-298-2334. JD B, Slant Dash, Nice, Recently Ran, w/ Cultivators & Mower. $l5OO See at 3566 E. Rt 30 Kinzer, PA. 281-473-5841. 352 NH hammer mill, 17' auger extension, 3 screens, $1,650. 717-258-4624 eves. New NH 24-36' hay & corn elevators. (2) Brillion 10' alfalfa packer/ seeders $l,BOO/$2,400. New 24' Allied hay elev. $875. Rebuilt 40' Zimmer man $2,400. 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NH bale wagons, all mod els, delivery available. 1-877-735-2108 406-883-2118 for FREE brochure. Farm Equip ment Finding Service, Poson, AAT All Combines Reduced for out of season SALE. Come make us an unrea sonable offer. You may be surprised! Combines do sell this time of year if price is right. Financing 8< delivery available. Zeis loft Used Eq., Blooms burg, RD9 (Jerseytown) PA 800/919-3322. Case IH 3594 MFWD, 24-spd power shift, 182 hp, cab, 4900 hrs, duals, $17,500.717/336-7375. 95 Model Kubota L 35 35hp tractor, 4WD, loader, canopy, 1800 hrs, $13,500. 717/336-7375. Ford 515 w/loader, 3pt & PTO, $7800; 8' pasture drag $265; Int. 8' offset disc $895; Ford 460 gas $2975; Int. 201 loader $7OO. 610/562-4464. AC 600 no-til corn planter w/monitor. 154 Artsway silage blower, auger feed. Both in good condition. 717-530-1656. NH 553 skid loader w/ Kubota diesel. Lancaster Co. 717-354-6829 240 Farmall with scraper blade, new clutch, fast hitch. International 424 with midmount sickle mower. Ask tor Ron, 570-356-7654. JD 74-4230, CHA, quad, recent paint, exc, $14,800. After 7 pm, 540-722-9641. Winco 18-30 Single Phase Generator on Transport w/Shaft, Exc. Call Morn ings 717-949-3769. JD 4400 combine $2250; JD 4400 combine dsl $2900; Gleaner F 2 $6500; Case 660 combine $300; MF 540 $3500; MF 550 D $4200. Don't let tow prices fool you, these machines are very good cond., just cheap. They will sell. Zeisloft Eq. 800/919-3322. IH 5288 tractor, cab, air blows cold, good radial tires, used on our farms, runs great. Fancy looker! Was $24,000, now $22,900. Zeisloft Eq. 800/919-3322. 7710 Ford tractor, 1400 hrs, 2WD, cab, air; TW 35, 2700 hrs, 4WD, cab, air; 21' cultimulcher Kewan nee; 2 Badger manure spreaders, tandem, hyd. tailgate, 320 bu. All excel lent, all shed kept. Serious inquiries only 570/ 966-0883 after 6pm. AC CA parts, 1 set power adj rims, 1 set of rear WW, 1 set of side mount wts, 1 set of 11.24 tire chains. LanCo, eves, 717-336-1282. Potato planter 2R slow speed, $500; Ditz Witzel potato seed cutter, $500; Boggs 26" potato grader w/B chain 8< belt, $5OO. 516/722-4369. Special new RB.J culti packer 23' w/20" ductile wheels. Ask for Ken or Mark 800/524-3276. 1993 JD 9500 combine, exc cond, w/918 flex head. 1997 JD 7240 11-row corn/soybean planter, like new. 301-662-5563. JD model “A” tractor & 2X plow, excellent condi tion, ready to work, $5000.516/722-4369. Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 29, 2000-C5 Mountains that only “new” apples are selected for study, testing and eventual preservation. The trip was paid for by the USDA Plant Exploration Fund, which funds about 12 gcrmplasm collecting trips each year. This was the seventh gcrmplasm expedition for apples.“We have one of the most active collection programs in the system, along with that for potatoes,” said Fotsline. Aldwinckle took the first trip to Central Asia in 1989. Forslinc has been on the six subsequent trips; the most recent was the trip he and Aldwinckle took to China in 1997. JD 640 loader w/mounts & joy stick, like new. 610/286-6544. 1958 JD 620, WFE (square front adi. axle) w/power rear wheel spacing, PS, float ride seat, 3pt hitch, cat. II w/top link, custom Powr-trol, live power & live hyd., single remote, brass tag serial #6218394, $4BOO. 570/752-2196. 3ph snowblowers, 5' $1500,6' $1600,7' slBoo,B' $2700, 9' $3300. Snow blower for skid steer, “welders special", $l2OO. 570-286-7851 JD 2355 Dsl, 2-Post Cano py, Remote Outlet, 3pth, 2179 Hrs, New Tires, MINT CONDITION I $13,500 856-769-3183 4055 JD 4WD, C/A/H, PS, Rebuilt Eng, Very Nice. Reasonbly Priced 570-922-3340. Brillion 13' cultipacker, $1250; FNH 2-Star tedder $975; JD 670 rake $1650; Farmall Cub w/mower $2250.610/562-4464. USED TRACTOR PARTS, also rebuilt clutches and torques. We ship UPS. Hill-T Fam Inc., 4295 Rich mond Palestine Rd, New Madison, OH 45346. 937-548-0718. 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Both dsl, running cond. 717-354-6706 Dismantling for Parts: Hundreds of farm trac tors new and old several JD 2 cylinders also dozers and track loaders. Call for any part you might need. Atkins Tractor Salvage. Union WV 24983. Phone 304-772-3741. Dl4 AC, WF, PS, straight and original, $2,675. LanCo, eves, 717-336-1282. IH 544, 52hp gas, hydro w/ldr, $5,800. 814-467-8839. IH 886, 1978, excel, cond, 2700 original hrs, 440 Great Bend loader, w/84” dirt bucket, quick detach loader, cab, fully loaded, excel, rubber, $15,000. 410-658-5882 Ford 4000 gas, select speed, WFE, w/Woods 80 mower, $3,800. Call 570-788-3092. JD 420 crawler w/loader, fair cond, $3,500. No Sun day calls, 610-447-7817. IH 710 semi-mount plow w/316 & auto, trips, $l5OO. Brillion 12' crow foot cultipacker w/ transport wheels, $5OO. 410/758-3099. Vermeer 3',4',5' new & used round balers, wheel rakes, tedders, round bale trailers, sheers, wrappers & film, rock pickers, corn pickers & finish cultivators. C. W. 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