National Laboratory for Genetic Resource Preservation Seed Program

Seeds are vital for the propagation of many plant species, serving as a repository of genetic diversity and are key to ensuring the survival and adaptation of plant populations. Gene banking seeds helps maintain the genetic diversity of crops, supporting the preservation of varieties that might otherwise be at risk of being lost due to environmental or agricultural pressures. The USDA National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) maintains over 500,000 seed accessions, across 10,000 species, representing a wide variety of crops, including grains, vegetables, nuts, fruits, ornamental plants and even crop wild relative species.

Seed collections are critical to maintaining biodiversity and the resilience of agricultural systems. However, they are also vulnerable to biotic (such as pests and diseases) and abiotic stresses (including extreme weather events, drought, and temperature fluctuations). To safeguard these collections, the National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation (NLGRP) uses conventional storage -18°C and cryogenic storage using liquid nitrogen at -196°C (-160°C in the vapor phase). This ensures the long-term survival and security of the seeds in case of environmental threats.

Seed collections entering NLGRP are classified as orthodox, which means it can be dried to low seed moisture and stored at freezing temperatures. At NLGRP the moisture content of incoming seed Is adjusted at 5°C and 25% relative humidity.

NLGRP cryopreserves seed collections for many crops, including wheat, soybeans, sunflowers, tomatoes, as well as many other vegetables and important food crops.

The NLGRP seed team also works on developing and optimizing storage techniques for seeds, as well as generating data and conducting studies to understand seed viability, dormancy, and germination. In addition to preserving seeds through gene banking they also use genotyping and genomics to understand the genetic diversity of plant collections and ensure that they are well-represented.