ARS | Publication request: Strawberry Genebank Information on the Worldwide Web

Submitted to: Acta Horticulture Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: January 1, 1997
Publication Date: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The USDA-ARS National Clonal Germplasm Repository in Corvallis, OR, keeps a collection of strawberry plants for use by researchers & breeders. This connection includes 411 hybrid, large fruited types plus more than 1,000 wild species from around the world. These strawberries are grown as potted plants & as small sterile plants in containers in the laboratory. Seeds of many of the wild species are kept in a freezer. The information about each of these strawberries is kept on a publicly accessible database called the "Germplasm Resources InfoNet (GRIN)." This database can be reached through the worldwide web at: http://www.ars-grin.gov/npgs. The Corvallis Repository also has a homepage at: http://www.ars-grin.gov/ars/PacWest/Corvallis/ncgr. The Repository staff updates the strawberry information that is loaded to the GRIN database. Anyone can electronically search the GRIN database or the Corvallis Repository homepage for information on strawberry development, country of origin, descriptive information, and images of the fruit. Requests to order plant material for research projects can be entered electronically or through conventional correspondence.

Technical Abstract: The USDA-ARS-NCGR, Corvallis, OR houses the Fragaria genebank for the US Nat'l Plant Germplasm System (NPGS). This collection includes 411 unique F. x ananassa Duche. cultivars & selections in addition to 1079 representatives of 33 taxa from 29 countries. The clonal germplasm is maintained as potted plants growing in screenhouses & backed up as in vitro ocultures stored for up to 5 years at 4oC. Seeds for wild species are preserved at -20oC. The background, or passport, information for each of the accessions is on the Germplasm Resources InfoNet (GRIN), which is accessible through the world wide web at: http://www.ars-grin.gov/npgs or from the Repository homepage at:http://www.ars-grin.gov/ars/PacWest/ Corvallis/ncgr. An approved taxonomic list with authorities, citations, & synonyms is available. Background clonal information includes breeder, history of development, pedigree, intellectual property rights, & a descriptive summary from the cultivar release & citations, where available Background species information includes collector, locality, & collection notes. Evaluation information includes yield components; phenology; & fruit, plant & leaf characteristics. Cultivar fruit images are also electronically accessible. Coordination of the data entry for internationally approved descriptors is planned. Plant requests can be placed electronically or through conventional correspondence.