New learning materials for conservation and use of plant genetic resources

Authors: BYRNE, PATRICK - Colorado State University; Volk, Gayle; MORRIS, GEOFF - Colorado State University; MUNOZ-AMATRIAIN, MARIA - Colorado State University; ZARESTKY, JILL - Colorado State University; CERIMELE, GINA - Colorado State University; CHEN, KATHERYN - Colorado State University; NAMUTH-COVERT, DEANA - Dr D'S Genetics, Llc; KINARD, GARY - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA); GU, LAURA - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA); GARDNER, CANDY - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA); MAHAMA, ANTHONY - Iowa State University; SUZA, WALTER - Iowa State University

Submitted to: National Association of Plant Breeders
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/30/2021
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Development of crops that are more productive, have reduced environmental impacts, and meet consumer expectations will benefit from more effective use of plant genetic resources (PGR). However, there is a lack of high quality educational resources on conserving PGR and employing them in plant breeding. A group of educators and researchers at Colorado State University, Iowa State University, and USDA-ARS has initiated a project to develop learning materials on these topics, and a first set of materials is now available at GRIN-U.org. This effort was inspired by a work group of the Plant Breeding Coordinating Committee, envisioned by attendees at a 2018 workshop, and funded primarily by a USDA-NIFA Higher Education Challenge Grant. The materials include • Three graduate-level 1-credit online courses to be offered by Colorado State University in 2021 and 2022 • Ebooks on topics including crop wild relatives, cryopreservation, and virtual field tours • Videos and webinars highlighting preservation methods, domestication, and diversity of various crops • Infographics on the roles of genebanks and botanic gardens in conserving PGR, and the use of PGR by plant breeders • YouTube content: GRIN.U.education Future materials will include a virtual tour of the National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation, an eBook on prebreeding methods, success stories on the use of PGR, and much more content relating to the maintenance of plant genetic resources in genebanks.

Technical Abstract: Development of crops that are more productive, have reduced environmental impacts, and meet consumer expectations will benefit from more effective use of plant genetic resources (PGR). However, there is a lack of high quality educational resources on conserving PGR and employing them in plant breeding. A group of educators and researchers at Colorado State University, Iowa State University, and USDA-ARS has initiated a project to develop learning materials on these topics, and a first set of materials is now available at GRIN-U.org. This effort was inspired by a work group of the Plant Breeding Coordinating Committee, envisioned by attendees at a 2018 workshop, and funded primarily by a USDA-NIFA Higher Education Challenge Grant. The materials include • Three graduate-level 1-credit online courses to be offered by Colorado State University in 2021 and 2022 • Ebooks on topics including crop wild relatives, cryopreservation, and virtual field tours • Videos and webinars highlighting preservation methods, domestication, and diversity of various crops • Infographics on the roles of genebanks and botanic gardens in conserving PGR, and the use of PGR by plant breeders • YouTube content: GRIN.U.education Future materials will include a virtual tour of the National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation, an eBook on prebreeding methods, success stories on the use of PGR, and much more content relating to the maintenance of plant genetic resources in genebanks.