Characterization and Evaluation Data Are Available Agricultural Productivity

Plant Genetic Resources Plant Genetic Resources Management Activities

The Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) serve as the basic cquisition is accomplished through foreign egeneration of seed supplies requires environments as part of the NC7 Trials. materials for research and development to sustain and domestic explorations or via exchange with controlled pollination techniques to prevent Characterization and evaluation data are available agricultural productivity. They provide useful traits otherA germplasm collections, botanical gardens, and pollenR contamination and to preserve the material’s to the public via the GRIN database. This greatly and genes for food, collectors. Most U.S. original genetic profile. Most NCRPIS crops are cross increases the value feed, fiber, medicinal, crops have international cross pollinated. As a result, the Station manages of the collections to aesthetic, industrial, and origins. Fostered by a one of the most extensive controlled pollination researchers and enables energy uses. Threatened long-standing tradition programs in the United States. Combined with careful them to better target globally by human of free exchange, harvesting techniques and post-harvest handling, the efforts and resources. and natural forces, acquisitions must integrity and quality of the collections are maintained Information can be their conservation is comply with national for future use. accessed at fundamental to the and international laws, www.ars-grin.gov/npgs/searchgrin.html. prosperity and future of intellectual property Hand pollination methods are used for the flowers mankind. rights, and farmers’ of maize and domesticated sunflowers. The flowers of carrots, istribution of available germplasm and rights. Observation of new materials under quarantine information is free to researchers and educators Plant germplasm is commonly conserved in the form conditions may be required to ensure plant and seed chicory, cucumbers, D of seeds or vegetable propagules such as roots, tubers, forage legumes, herbs, worldwide. Materials can be requested via the GRIN health. Identifying information (i.e. passport data) is website, email, or postal mail. In return, recipients are whole plants, or tissues. Germplasm is comprised of entered into the GRIN database. medicinals, melons, both the genetic material that controls heredity and the oilseed brassicas, asked to provide NCRPIS with information regarding tissues, organs, and organisms which express inherent ornamentals, pumpkins, the utility of the germplasm for crop improvement, genetic variation. and wild sunflowers are direct use, and scientific research. This information pollinated in the field or helps curators understand germplasm users’ needs and better target PGR use. aintenance activities relate to propagation greenhouses by insects. National Plant Germplasm System and management of quality germplasm. The NCRPIS uses a AvailabilityM of an accession is determined by both variety of pollinating insects including alfalfa leaf enetic enhancement activities at NCRPIS The U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS), cutter bees, bumble bees, honey bees, Osmia or mason focus mainly on the adaptation and release a network of Federal and State Institutions and viability and quantity. Seed increase growouts G are scheduled when viability or supply levels fall bees, and flies. These insects require intensive efforts of exotic maize germplasm for termperate U.S. Research Units coordinated by the U.S. Department production via the Germplasm Enhancement of Maize below a predetermined level. Seed for distribution to ensure their health, effectiveness, and availability. of Agriculture-Agricultural Reseach Service (USDA- (GEM) Project. This, and other enhancement projects, is stored in temperature and humidity controlled ARS), is dedicated to providing plant germplasm Plants and seeds are tested with physical, visual, incorporate high value traits into adapted varieties. rooms at 39 °F (4 °C) and 25% relative humidity. and valuable information to researchers worldwide. biochemical, and molecular methods to ensure that Desirable traits incorporated thus far include: multiple Information is publicly available via the Germplasm Original seed is stored they are free from disease pathogens and insect pests pest resistance and value-added traits for maize, Resources Information Network (GRIN) database at separately at 0 °F (-18 during regeneration activities and prior to distribution. seed retention for Amaranthus, fruit rot resistance in www.ars-grin.gov. °C). Standard viability- cucumbers, and resistance to several foliar diseases of testing protocols are haracterization and evaluation sunflower. information is collected by NCRPIS staff and National Plant Germplasm Facilities used for crops such C as maize. Many taxa, germplasm researchers on agronomic performance, biochemical, genetic, phenotypic, and aesthestic esearch programs conducted by NCRPIS Palmer especially of wild Pullman traits and qualities. Digital images are captured to staff contribute to identification of taxonomic Corvallis species, do not have R Sturgeon Bay Geneva provide useful detail on plant and seed structures, and phylogenetic relationships, understanding plant Aberdeen established practices Ames Columbus evolution and development, information on traits and Beltsville and permanent information for reference use. Davis Ft. Collins Urbana Washington, DC for growing them and/ properties of the accessions in the collections, and to Parlier Analysis of highly heritable traits supports taxonomic Oxford Riverside or testing viability. Research efforts are devoted Griffin optimal resource management. NCRPIS staff are also Stuttgart identification and quality assurance. Information on Hilo to developing these methods and to determining engaged in the development of software applications College Station their adaptation, maturity, and reactions to biotic or optimal testing intervals. Seed is deposited at the abiotic stress is valuable to researchers. For example, designed to improve germplasm and information Miami National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation management, and the delivery of information to the Mayaguez, PR a regional network of collaborators evaluates woody (NCGRP) in Fort Collins, CO as a safety backup. ornamental introductions for adaptation to Midwestern public. ARS Mission Cuphea Crops Maintained at NCRPIS Crucifers As the principal in house research arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Agricultural Research North Maize Sunflower Service has a mission to: Central Flax Medicinals Conduct research to develop and transfer solutions to agricultural problems of high national priority and Euphorbia Regional Asters provide information access and dissemination to: Wild Flax Other ensure high quality, safe food and other agricultural Parsnips P lant Chicory products, assess the nutritional needs of Americans, Basil Carrot sustain a competitive agricultural economy, enhance Mints I ntroduction Grasses the natural resource base and the environment, and Legumes provide economic opportunities for rural citizens, Quinoa S tation Celosia communities, and society as a whole. Cucurbits Spinach Perilla Contact us at: Ornamentals Umbels North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station Millets Sweet Amaranth USDA-ARS-PIRU Clover G212 Agronomy, ISU Ames, IA 50011-1170 North Central Regional Plant NCRPIS Mission Phone: 515.294.3255 Introduction Station (NCRPIS) • Acquire and conserve genetically diverse crop Fax: 515.294.4880 • Founded in 1948 germplasm and associated information, www.ars.usda.gov/mwa/ames/ncrpis • One of four Plant Introduction Stations in the U.S. • Conduct research that supports germplasm • It is a joint venture of: conservation activities, • USDA-ARS • Encourage their improvement and use in research • Agricultural Experiment Stations (AES) of the 12 and product development and education. North Central States • member institutions of Multi-State Project NC7 NCRPIS Collections • Iowa State University (ISU), our host institution • Contains over 1,400 plant species • Located on 100 acres (40 ha) of ISU land, two miles • About 50,000 accessions (types) of: (3.2 km) southwest of the ISU campus. • crop cultivars • landraces • Facilities include: climate-controlled rooms for seed • elite lines • populations storage, insect rearing, IT equipment; greenhouses; • wild and weedy crop relatives - valuable for their laboratories; offices; farm equipment storage. genetic material. NCRPIS Employees Curators and Crop Management Activities IOWA STATE • 35 permanent USDA-ARS and ISU staff Crop Curators direct their expertise and energies to • 20 to 60 part-time staff developing collections representative of the breadth of UNIVERSITY United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service • Diverse, multidisciplinary expertise in: their geographic and genetic diversity. Their practical United States Department of Agriculture • plant genetic resource conservation and scholarly research and service activities serve Agricultural Research Service • molecular biology crop research community needs. Agricultural Experiment Stations • plant pathology IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY of the Twelve North Central States Curator activities at the NCRPIS include acquisition, • plant physiology maintenance, regeneration, characterization and • entomology The USDA and ISU are equal opportunity Iowa State University evaluation, distribution, genetic enhancement, and • informtion technology providers and employers. research. • farm and facilities support Revised January 2008