Technical Abstract: A world collection of Ribes species and cultivars is maintained by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS). The NPGS is a cooperative effort by State, Federal, and private organizations to preserve plant genetic diversity by acquiring, preserving, evaluating, documenting, and distributing crop germplasm. The program provides scientists around the world with access to genetically diverse plant materials to help develop new varieties that are resistant to pests, diseases, and environmental stresses. Clonal material and seeds from species and cultivars of currants and gooseberries have been collected from throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and South America, in accordance with international treaty requirements. Future efforts will continue to fill genetic gaps in collections. The Ribes collection is maintained at the National Clonal Germplasm Repository (NCGR) in Corvallis, Oregon, and its worksite at the Arctic and Subarctic Plant Gene Bank (ASPGB) in Palmer, Alaska. Ribes accessions are maintained as seeds, in vitro cultures, container-grown plants, and field plantings. The NCGR and ASPGB presently maintain 1321 Ribes accessions representing 110 species and hybrid taxa from 41 countries. Research priorities include evaluations on climatic adaptability, growth characteristics, fruit characteristics, and disease susceptibility. Resistance to white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola J.C. Fisch.), powdery mildew (Podosphaera mors-uvae Schwein. and Podosphaera macularis Wallr.), and other common diseases is determined through field observations and laboratory tests. The collection is screened for the presence of Tomato ringspot, Arabis mosaic, Tobacco rattle, and Gooseberry vein-banding viruses, as well as phytoplasmas. Genetic profiles and characteristics of the collection are also being determined. Development of fingerprints for standard cultivars will be determined through molecular marker analysis using simple sequence repeats (SSRs). Information on the Ribes collection is available online through the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). This internet site also provides the means for scientists and other cooperators to request plant materials. Information provided by germplasm recipients on plant performance is also added to the GRIN system. Public access to GRIN can be gained through http://www.ars-grin.gov/npgs.