Technical Abstract: Within the U. S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the National Genetic Resources Program (NGRP) is responsible for acquiring, characterizing, preserving, documenting, and distributing to scientists, germplasm of all lifeforms important for food and agricultural production. Within the NGRP, the Ornamental Plant Germplasm Center (OPGC) is responsible for ornamental plants. Because of the extremely large number of ornamental species, OPGC established a list of 30 priority genera. One of the priority genera was the orchid Phalaenopsis. In 2003, Phalaenopsis was the number two flowering potted-plant in wholesale value, worth over $120,000,000. The major industry focus group (International Phalaenopsis Alliance) has established a living collection at the Atlanta Botanic Garden. The OPGC is working with the Alliance to coordinate conservation and preservation efforts.