Subtropical and tropical ornamental genetic resource management, characterization, and genetic improvement at USDA-SHRS, FL

Authors: Nageswara Rao, Madhugiri

Submitted to: Plant and Animal Genome Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/10/2022
Publication Date: 1/13/2023
Citation: Nageswara Rao, M. 2023. Subtropical and tropical ornamental genetic resource management, characterization, and genetic improvement at USDA-SHRS, FL. Plant and Animal Genome Conference, January 13-18, 2023. San Diego, California.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The ornamental horticulture industry is one of the most diverse and fastest-growing business sectors throughout the world. The USDA/ARS Subtropical Horticulture Research Station, a 200 +acre facility located in Miami, FL safeguards invaluable subtropical and tropical ornamental genetic resources from all over the world in the form of 2500+ ornamental plants which have been collected during the past one hundred years. These ornamental genetic resources are diverse and are recognized as exceedingly important, not only for Florida, but also to meet the needs of national and international researchers, breeders, nurserymen, botanical gardens, and the ornamental plant industry. Changing climatic conditions, outbreaks of exotic pests, diseases, and frequent floods and droughts are negatively affecting the survival of these genetic resources. Effective conservation and availability of tropical and subtropical ornamental plant genetic resources that are climate resilient and ecologically, aesthetically, and economically sustainable are urgent needs for researchers, breeders, and across the U.S. and international ornamental industry. Consolidated efforts to fill the gaps in effective maintenance, adaptability and genetic-genomic characterization of climatically resilient germplasm leading to the economic prosperity of the ornamental horticulture industry are topics addressed herein.