Author
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Gardner, Candice |
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Submitted to: American Phytopathological Society Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 3/10/2012 Publication Date: 8/7/2012 Citation: Gardner, C.A. 2012. The National Plant Germplasm System and GRIN-Global. American Phytopathological Society Abstracts. Abstract 115-S. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: The National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) is a cooperative effort by public and private organizations to preserve plant genetic diversity. Federal and State personnel at 20 sites are responsible for approximately 547,000 unique accessions of a wide array of plant genetic resources (PGR) representing 14,325 species and 2,355 genera. Included are the National Center for Genetic Resource Preservation in Ft. Collins, CO, which conducts preservation research and provides a back-up site for all collections; 18 active sites responsible for seed- and/or clonally-propagated species; and the National Germplasm Resources Laboratory in Beltsville, MD, responsible for the Germplasm Resource Information Network (GRIN), a system for collection and dissemination of germplasm information. A few examples of integrated plant-associated microbial research with genebank collections by ARS researchers will be presented. Collections of plant-associated microbes are very important; the author is unaware of any collection prepared to accept and maintain the variety of material being isolated and characterized by U.S. or global researchers. The NPGS, in partnership with the Global Crop Diversity Trust and Bioversity International, developed the GRIN-Global System to provide a database flexible, multi-lingual, license-free information management system to meet global plant genebank needs. GRIN-Global was released internationally in 2011; NPGS staff members are now preparing to implement it for the NPGS. This system should be assessed for its potential value for managing information associated with other biological collections, including microbes. |
