ARS | Publication request: Temperate forage legume and grass genetic resources: capitalizing on the U.S. germplasm system

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: September 25, 2006
Publication Date: March 25, 2006
Citation: Greene, S.L., Bradley, V.L., Johnson, R.C. 2006. Temperate forage legume and grass genetic resources: capitalizing on the U.S. germplasm system. Meeting Proceedings.

Interpretive Summary: The U.S. germplasm collection for temperate forage legumes and grasses provides diverse genetic resources used for breeding fodder crops adapted to conventional and organic farming. Our mission is to conserve and promote the use of genetic resources as a guard against genetic erosion and crop genetic vulnerability. We do this by acquiring new seeds, and maintaining, evaluating, and distributing seed from our existing collections.This paper describes current activities in the temperate forage collections, and examines the recent use of the collection to develop germplasm useful in organic fodder production systems.

Technical Abstract: The U.S. germplasm collection for temperate forage legumes and grasses provides diverse genetic resources to support the development of fodder crops adapted to conventional and organic farming practices. The collection contains 12,000 accessions of Medicago, Trifolium and Lotus representing 368 taxa; and 18,300 accessions of cool-season grasses representing 987 taxa. The collections are housed at the Western Regional Germplasm Repository in Pullman, Washington. Our mission is to conserve and promote the use of genetic resources as a guard against genetic erosion and crop genetic vulnerability. This is accomplished through the following activities: acquisition, maintenance, evaluation, documentation, research and seed distribution. This presentation will provide a brief overview of the USDA Agricultural Research Service, including the National Plant Germplasm System, describe current activities in the temperate forage collections, and examine the recent use of the collection to support conventional and organic fodder production systems.