The Demand for Crop Genetic Resources: International Use of the US National Plant Germplasm System

The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) manages the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS). The USDA's National Genetic Resources Program was created in 1990, using the NPGS as the model by which other life forms would also be preserved and utilized. While the NPGS is a broadly defined system, ARS has a specific role of acquiring, characterizing, preserving, documenting, and distributing germplasm to scientist users for research and breeding. The NPGS provides genetic resources to users at no cost but with a request to return data to incorporate in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) database. The database is available as hard copy, diskette through PC-GRIN, and, for some crops, a CD-ROM disk. Service to users is the primary objective. The NPGS and 40 crop advisory committees exchange technical information on the most important conservation issues. Recent research advances at the National Seed Storage Laboratory provide guidance for storage management of orthodox and desiccation-sensitive seed and vegetative germplasm. Cryopreservation may receive more attention and play a more important role for the vegetative germplasm because improved seed management under conventional refrigerated storage is now possible. Key words: Germplasm, databases, cryopreservation

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An Overview of the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System's Exploration Program

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.40.2.297 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 40 (2) ◽

pp. 297-301 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Karen A. Williams

Keyword(s):

Genetic Resources ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Benefit Sharing ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

Host Countries ◽

Plant Germplasm ◽

Technological Advances ◽

The Us ◽

Crop Germplasm ◽

New Germplasm

The Plant Exploration Program was established by USDA in 1898, several decades before the emergence of the US National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS), and continues to support international and domestic plant explorations for germplasm acquisition. These explorations are designed to fill collection gaps identified by the crop curators of the NPGS and the 40 Crop Germplasm Committees that counsel the NPGS. About 15 explorations are conducted annually under the auspices of this program. Although plant explorations to remote areas are often still the only means of acquiring unique new germplasm, the focus and methods applied by modern plant explorers have changed significantly in recent years in response to evolving germplasm needs and the new opportunities presented by recent technological advances. Modern explorations are characterized by the targeting of specific taxa and traits. New exploration techniques and tools, including geographic information systems and improved methods of data collection, are being applied to locate, document, and assess plant genetic diversity. During the past decade, legal obstacles faced by the Program have increased due to restrictive laws implemented in germplasm donor countries that exercise their national sovereignty over genetic resources, replacing the free and open access to genetic resources that prevailed before the ratification of the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1993. The NPGS has responded to these regulatory challenges with a flexible approach that includes nonmonetary benefit sharing and increased partnerships with host countries.

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CROP ADVISORY COMMITTEES: AN ADVISORY COMPONENT OF THE NATIONAL PLANT GERMPLASM SYSTEM

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.27.6.647a ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 27 (6) ◽

pp. 647a-647

Author(s):

Mark A. Bohning ◽

Allan K. Stoner

Keyword(s):

Genetic Resources ◽

Plant Genetic Resources ◽

Analysis Data ◽

The United States ◽

Federal State ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Horticultural Crops ◽

Plant Germplasm ◽

The Status ◽

National Plant Germplasm System

The United States' National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) is responsible for the acquisition, preservation, evaluation and distribution of plant genetic resources in the form of seed and clonal germplasm. In order to operate more effectively, the NPGS established a network of 40 Crop Advisory Committees (CACs) to provide analysis, data, and advice about germplasm within a crop or group of related crops of current or future economic importance. CACs are composed of Federal, State and industry scientists representing a variety of agricultural disciplines and geographic areas of importance to the crop. The committees are involved in a variety of activities including: 1) Developing crop descriptors for the collection of standardized characteristic and evaluation data, 2) Determining priorities for germplasm acquisition, evaluation and enhancement, 3) Advising curators on maintenance techniques, and 4) Developing special reports on the status of genetic resources for their crop(s). Twenty-four of the CACs are concerned with horticultural crops.

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Managing Global Genetic Resources: The U. S. National Plant Germplasm System. The Committee on Managing Global Genetic Resources: Agricultural

The Quarterly Review of Biology ◽

10.1086/417586 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 67 (2) ◽

pp. 210-211

Keyword(s):

Genetic Resources ◽

Plant Germplasm ◽

National Plant Germplasm System

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Global Access to Maize Germplasm Provided by the US National Plant Germplasm System and by US Plant Breeders

Crop Science ◽

10.2135/cropsci2015.07.0439 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 56 (3) ◽

pp. 931-941 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Bradley Kurtz ◽

Candice A. C. Gardner ◽

Mark J. Millard ◽

Thomas Nickson ◽

J. Stephen C. Smith

Keyword(s):

Maize Germplasm ◽

Plant Germplasm ◽

The Us ◽

National Plant Germplasm System ◽

Global Access

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Availability of Genotypic Data for USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System Accessions Using the Genetic Resources Information Network (GRIN) Database

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.43.5.1365 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 43 (5) ◽

pp. 1365-1366 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Gayle M. Volk ◽

Christopher M. Richards

Keyword(s):

Genetic Resources ◽

Association Studies ◽

Model Organism ◽

Information Network ◽

Plant Materials ◽

Raw Data ◽

Data Infrastructure ◽

Plant Germplasm ◽

National Plant Germplasm System ◽

Access To Data

The USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) provides critical genetic resources to researchers and breeders worldwide. Users of the NPGS materials need access to data for genetic and descriptive characteristics of the plant materials. New tables and codes have been added to the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) database to hold raw data relating to molecular markers and alleles. The revised tables accommodate multiple marker types; provide raw data for individuals; accept polyploid data; and provide a record of methods, standards, and control values. A long-term goal is to make the GRIN molecular tables fully interoperable with the National Center for Biotechnology Information database as well as bioinformatic databases (model organism and clade organism databases). The development of this capacity provides critical data infrastructure for future genotype–phenotype association studies and gene discovery.

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