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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Griffin, Georgia » Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #332590
Title: U.S. Sorghum genetic resources collection: 15 years of progress (2001-2016)

Author
item Pederson, Gary
item Spinks, Merrelyn
item Chalkley, Lee - Lee Ann
item Vankus, Phiffie
item Fields, Tiffany
item Jones, Sylvia
item Pinnow, David

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/5/2016
Publication Date: 9/20/2016
Citation: Pederson, G.A., Spinks, M., Chalkley, L.A., Vankus, P.J., Fields, T.B., Jones, S.M., Pinnow, D.L. 2016. U.S. Sorghum genetic resources collection: 15 years of progress (2001-2016). [abstract] Sorghum International Conference of North America (SICNA). Poster No.11.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The U.S. sorghum genetic resources collection at Griffin, GA, is one of the largest collections in the National Plant Germplasm System. In 2001, improved maintenance was greatly needed as accessions weren’t regenerated routinely, viability tests weren’t conducted, and most seed was stored in 4C instead of -18C. Utilization was reduced. In 15 years, the sorghum collection has been greatly improved. Collection size at Griffin has increased from 30,705 to 39,934 accessions with availability improving from 92.6% to 95.1%. Regenerations of over 21,000 accessions have been conducted by ARS scientists in St. Croix and Puerto Rico since 2001. Viability tests have been conducted on 96.4% of the collection. Viability results showed that 89.6% of the accessions have >50% viability and 53.8% have >80% viability. Backups at Ft. Collins, CO, have increased from 90.4% to 96% with 21.6% also backed up in Svalbard, Norway. Observation data loaded in GRIN has increased from 536,472 records in 2001 to 1,020,705 records in 2016. Accession longevity has been improved through -18C storage of 34,686 accessions (86.9%) in 2016 compared with 8,300 accessions in 2001. All of these improvements in the sorghum collection have resulted in much greater utilization by researchers. Distributions increased from 8,057 samples shipped in 2001 to 17,720 samples already shipped in the first half of 2016. An average of 14,700 accessions have been distributed each year for the past 10 years. The U.S. sorghum collection will continue to provide valuable genetic resources for future decades of sorghum research.