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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Pullman, Washington » Plant Germplasm Introduction and Testing Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #427071
Research Project: Genetic Improvement of Alfalfa for Enhanced Productivity under Abiotic Stress

Location: Plant Germplasm Introduction and Testing Research

Title: Assessment of rhubarb cultivars grown in Alaska for commercial suitability and conservation

Author
item KOWENSTROT, ANN - University Of Wisconsin
item Cornwall, Alexander
item Warburton, Marilyn
item UHDRE, RENAN - Washington State University
item MILES, CAROL - Washington State University

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/29/2025
Publication Date: 7/15/2025
Citation: Kowenstrot, A.M., Cornwall, A.M., Warburton, M.L., Uhdre, R., Miles, C. 2025. Assessment of rhubarb cultivars grown in Alaska for commercial suitability and conservation. HortScience. 60(8):1333-1340. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI18674-25.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI18674-25

Interpretive Summary: Rhubarb (Rheum sp.) is a cool season perennial fruit crop that thrives in northern regions of the world. As one of the few perennial fruits that grow well in Alaska, it is very popular and was first introduced there in the 1700s. The USDA ARS National Plant Germplasm System has a collection of rhubarb at the Western Regional Plant Introduction Station in Pullman, WA, but prior to 2012 it was housed in the Arctic and Subarctic Plant Gene Bank in Alaska, where several of the varieties still live. In addition, a collection of local Alaskan heirloom varieties is maintained privately. This study was undertaken to collect morphological data and assess the genetic relatedness of rhubarb varieties grown in Alaska and compare them to accessions in the USDA ARS Western Regional Plant Introduction Station.

Technical Abstract: Rhubarb (Rheum sp.) is a cool season perennial fruit crop that thrives in northern regions of the world. As one of the few perennial fruits that grow well in Alaska, it is very popular and was first introduced there in the 1700s. The USDA ARS National Plant Germplasm System has a collection of rhubarb at the Western Regional Plant Introduction Station in Pullman, WA, but prior to 2012 it was housed in the Arctic and Subarctic Plant Gene Bank in Alaska, where several of the varieties still live. In addition, a collection of local Alaskan heirloom varieties is maintained privately. This study was undertaken to collect morphological data and assess the genetic relatedness of rhubarb varieties grown in Alaska and compare them to accessions in the USDA ARS Western Regional Plant Introduction Station