2010 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) Collect well documented plant genetic resources for the ARS managed U.S. National Plant Germplasm System. 1b.Approach (from AD-416) Highly qualified botanists working in the countries of the former Soviet Union, will be identified then contacted to develop proposals to collect and document needed genetic resources from their country. These proposals will be peer reviewed and those accepted will be funded and managed through this SCA. Collected germplasm and associated documentation will be equally shared with the national genebank in the host country. The U.S. share of the collected germplasm and documentation will be maintained in the appropriate collections of the U.S. NPGS. All plant exploration and exchange activities associated with the SCA will be in compliance with UN Convention on Biological Diversity and the International Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. 3.Progress Report Plant explorations were organized, funded and undertaken in the northern Caucasus region of Russia for native lettuce species, and in Georgia and Armenia for native species related to wheat. National permission for access to genetic resources was obtained for all three countries and national botanists in each country conducted the plant explorations. A share of the collected germplasm and associated documentation was made available to the national genetic resources programs of the host counties. The U.S. share of the collected germplasm and associated documentation was deposited into the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System. All activities within this agreement were monitored by e-mail.