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Title: Germplasm Conservation and Access to Genetic Resources: National Plant Germplasm System and the National Clonal Germplasm Repository

Author
item Hummer, Kim

Submitted to: Symposium Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/5/2016
Publication Date: 2/5/2016
Citation: Hummer, K.E. 2016. Germplasm Conservation and Access to Genetic Resources: National Plant Germplasm System and the National Clonal Germplasm Repository. Symposium Proceedings. Organic Seed Alliance,Port Townsend, WA, pp. 126-130.

Interpretive Summary: The US National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) conserves more than 550,000 accessions of genetic resources of crop wild relatives and cultivated, economically important crops. These accessions represent more than 20,000 plant species and are stored at about 25 locations throughout the United States. Germplasm sites include the Regional Plant Introduction Stations, Clonal Germplasm Repositories, specific crop related genebanks, and the base or back-up collection at Ft. Collins, Colorado. The objectives of these genebanks are to collect, maintain (regenerate), document, distribute, and evaluate genetic resources. As a whole, the NPGS distributes between 250,000 to 300,000 accessions annually to domestic and international requestors for germplasm evaluation, research, and breeding efforts. The NPGS abides by the International Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. USDA-sponsored plant exploration is conducted under approved bilateral agreements with the host country, considering benefit sharing and the preparation of standard material transfer agreements. The NPGS has provided more than 90,000 accessions to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault during the past several years.

Technical Abstract: The US National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) conserves more than 550,000 accessions of genetic resources of crop wild relatives and cultivated, economically important crops. These accessions represent more than 20,000 plant species and are stored at about 25 locations throughout the United States. Germplasm sites include the Regional Plant Introduction Stations, Clonal Germplasm Repositories, specific crop related genebanks, and the base or back-up collection at Ft. Collins, Colorado. The objectives of these genebanks are to collect, maintain (regenerate), document, distribute, and evaluate genetic resources. As a whole, the NPGS distributes between 250,000 to 300,000 accessions annually to domestic and international requestors for germplasm evaluation, research, and breeding efforts. The NPGS abides by the International Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. USDA-sponsored plant exploration is conducted under approved bilateral agreements with the host country, considering benefit sharing and the preparation of standard material transfer agreements. The NPGS has provided more than 90,000 accessions to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault during the past several years.