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Title: Results of an exploration to expand the diversity of Daucus and Apiaceae germplasm collections

Author
item Widrlechner, Mark
item REITSMA, KATHLEEN - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item BRENNER, DAVID - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: The Umbelliferae Improvement Newsletter
Publication Type: Research Notes
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/6/2007
Publication Date: 8/31/2007
Citation: Widrlechner, M.P., Reitsma, K.R., Brenner, D.M. 2007. Results of an exploration to expand the diversity of Daucus and Apiaceae germplasm collections. The Umbelliferae Improvement Newsletter. 16:3-7.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: This brief report summarizes efforts conducted at the USDA-ARS North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station (NCRPIS) in Ames, Iowa to conserve important umbel accessions collected in 1999 from Greece, Syria, and Turkey as part of a plant exploration organized by Dr. Philipp Simon (USDA-ARS, Madison, Wisconsin). The exploration resulted in the collection of seed samples from 290 umbel populations. Since 1999, the NCRPIS has worked to confirm the identity of these new collections, regenerate them, and make them available for research and education. After producing sufficient quantities of fresh seeds under isolation in screened cages with the addition of insect pollinators, we have been able to make 230 of these umbel collections available for distribution. Only seven collections were inactivated due to initial inviability or our inability to regenerate seeds from the initial samples. The remaining 53 samples await additional regeneration attempts. During the course of seed regeneration, we were able to verify many of the initial taxonomic identifications made in the field by the collectors. However, based on pertinent monographs and floras, 152 of the accessions have been re-identified or received name changes due to nomenclature issues. The largest group of changes made to date involved 84 accessions that had been received as Daucus sp. As knowledge of the availability of these diverse accessions becomes more widely shared within the research community, we expect that these collections will be found useful for improving our understanding of umbel genetics, breeding, stress tolerance, and systematics.