NCRPIS Publications and Papers North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station 2004 Establishment of a new genebank for herbaceous ornamental plants David Tay The Ohio State University Mark P. Widrlechner United States Department of Agriculture, [email protected] James L. Corfield Follow this and additional works at: http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/ncrpis_pubs Part of the Horticulture Commons, and the Plant Breeding and Genetics Commons The ompc lete bibliographic information for this item can be found at http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/ ncrpis_pubs/45. For information on how to cite this item, please visit http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/ howtocite.html. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in NCRPIS Publications and Papers by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ARTICLE Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter, 2004, No. 137: 26-33 Establishment of a new genebank for herbaceous ornamental plants 1 3 David Tay, l2l Mark P. Widrlechner2 and James L. Corfield 1 Ornamental Plant Germplasm Center, The Ohio State University, 670 Vernon Tharp Street, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. Email: [email protected] 2 US Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service, North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA. Email: [email protected] 3 103 Brookfield Lane, Geneva, IL 60134, USA. Email: [email protected] Summary Resume Resumen Establishment of a new genebank L'etablissement d'une nouvelle Establecimiento de un nuevo for herbaceous ornamental plants banque de genes pour les plantes banco de germoplasma para This paper summarizes the establish­ ornementales herbacees plantas ornamentales herbaceas ment and development of the new Cet article decrit l'etablissement et le Este documento resume el estableci­ Ornamental Plant Germplasm Center developpement du nouveau Centre miento y desarrollo de el nuevo Centro (OPGC) of the US National Plant du Materiel Genetique Yegetal Orne­ de Germoplasma de Plantas Omamen­ Germplasm System (NPGS), its initial mental (OPGC, en anglais) du Systeme tales (OPGC siglas en Ingles) de el Sis­ accomplishments, and future plans. National du Materiel Genetique Yegetal tema National de Germoplasma Vegetal We recount its genesis from a concept des Etats-Unis (NPGS, en anglais), ses (NPGS, siglas en Ingles) de los Estados to the signing of a Special Cooperative accomplissements initiaux, et ses des­ Unidos, asi como sus logros iniciales Agreement (SCA) in 1999 between seins futurs. Nous racontons sa genese y sus futuros planes. Nosotros descri­ the United States Department of Ag­ depuis un concept jusqu' a l'achevement bimos su generaci6n bajo el concepto riculture (USDA) and The Ohio State d'un accord cooperatif special (SCA, en de un Acuerdo Cooperativo Especial University (OSU). The roles of the anglais) entre le Departement d'Agri­ (SCA, siglas en Ingles) en 1999 entre NPGS Herbaceous Ornamental Crop culture des Etats-Unis et l'Universite el Departamento de Agricultura de los Germplasm Committee (HOCGC), the de l'Etat du Ohio. Les roles du Comite Estados Unidos (USDA) y Ohio State creation of an OPGC Ad-hoc Advisory pour Materiel Genetique des Recoltes University (OSU). Se seftala el papel de Committee in shaping the foundation of Omementales Herbacees du NPGS el Comite de Germoplasma de Cultivos the OPGC leading to the appointment (HOCGC, en anglais) et l'etablissement Ornamentales Herbaceos (HOCGC, of an interim centre programme direc­ d'un Comite Consultatif ad-hoc pour siglas en Ingles) de el NPGS, tambien tor, and the employment of the centre le Centre en formant le fondement du se aborda la creaci6n de un Comite director and curator are described. OPGC, menant a la nomination d'un de Consejo propio para el OPGC para The Center was officially inaugurated Directeur d'interim et l'emploi du Di­ mostrar la naturaleza de la fundaci6n de in July 2001. At this initial stage of recteur permanent and le Conservateur, el OPGC, la designaci6n de un director the Center's development, a decision sont elucides. Le Centre a ete inaugure interino de programa en el centro y el was made to concentrate initial efforts en juillet 2001. A cette premiere etape du empleo de el director y encargado del mainly on four economically important developpement du Centre, une decision centro. El centro fue inaugurado ofi­ genera (Begonia, Impatiens, Petunia and a ete prise pour concentrer des efforts cialmente en julio del 2001. En la etapa Pelargonium). To date, 966 accessions initiaux principalement sur le supe­ inicial de desarrollo del centro se tom6 of herbaceous ornamental species rieur peu de genres (Begonia, Impatiens, - la decision de concentrar los esfuerzos conserved at other NPGS repositories Petunia, and Pelargonium). Jusqu'ici, 966 iniciales en pocos generos (Begonia, have been transferred to the OPGC accessions des especes omementales Impatiens, Petunia y Pelargonium). A la and more than 700 new accessions have herbacees, conservees a d'autres depots fecha 966 accesiones de especies herba­ been acquired. The accomplishments du NPGS ont ete transferees au Centre ceas omamentales conservadas en otras 700 of the past two years of operation are et, plus de nouvelles accessions ont1 instalaciones de NPGS han sido tranfe­ highlighted, and the first year annual ete acquises. Les accomplissements des ridas a el OPGC y ademas, mas de 700 report is posted on the OPGC Web site: deux demieres annees de l' operation accesiones nuevas han sido adquiridas. http: I I opgc.osu.edu. sont accentues, et le rapport annuel de, Los logros de los pasados dos aftos de premiere annee est signale sur le weblft, operaci6n son resaltados y el reporte site du Centre : http: I I opgc.osu.edu. anual de el primer afto esta disponible Key words: ex situ conservation, en la pagina electr6nica del OPGC : germplasm management, National http: I I opgc.osu.edu. Plant Germplasm System, ornamental plants Introduction The National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) of the United United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural States comprises a network of sites that cooperatively manage Research Service (ARS) and The Ohio State University extensive collections of plant genetic resources of agronomic (OSU) established and funded a new management site, the and horticultural crops and their wild and weedy relatives Ornamental Plant Germplasm Center (OPGC), as an integral (White et al. 1989; Shands 1995). For much of its history, part of the NPGS. the NPGS lacked comprehensive collections of herbaceous This paper presents a historical overview of the ornamental plants. In 1999 an agreement between the development of the OPGC, its initial accomplishments and Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter, 2004, No. 137 27 future plans. Beyond serving as historical documentation, we genebanks typically did not include curatorial personnel with hope this information provides useful advice for researchers or floricultural expertise. Limited professional relationships institutions considering the establishment of new genebanks. between these personnel and the floricultural research community provided no effective stimulus for collection development and usage. Genesis During the 1980s, the NPGS established 40 crop-specific The concept of a national collection of herbaceous ornamental committees made up of experts from academia, private plants within the United States came about indirectly, as a industry, public gardens and governmental agencies to help result of a 1977 decision by the OSU Board of Trustees to improve communications between germplasm managers establish the D.C. Kiplinger Chair in Floriculture shortly and users and to involve external expertise in germplasm after the death of Dr Kiplinger, a distinguished scientist who evaluation and utilization. These Crop Germplasm had served on OSU' s floriculture faculty since 1937. The Chair Committees (CGCs) have been instrumental in developing was created as a temporary, rotating position to be filled by descriptor lists for evaluation (Roath 1989), identifying individuals with a record of significant achievements in the acquisition and regeneration needs and improving field of floricultural education and research. dissemination of information about germplasm collections The first appointee to the Kiplinger Chair, Dr H. Marc and their value (Shands 1995). Cathey (1980-81), recommended the establishment of a As part of that effort, in 1988 the NPGS established a national germplasm collection and conservation programme CGC specifically for herbaceous ornamental plants. The for herbaceous ornamentals as an important tool for Herbaceous Ornamental CGC (HOCGC) initiated an meeting future floricultural needs (Cathey 1981), but his ambitious project to develop germplasm status reports for recommendation was not acted on. In 1992, representatives 24 of the most important genera of herbaceous ornamental of two trade associations, the Society of American Florists plants. Those status reports (Herbaceous Ornamental Crop (SAF) and the American Nursery and Landscape Association Germplasm Committee 1995) helped document germplasm (ANLA), began a coordinated effort to assemble information collections held outside of the NPGS, identify experts and set on the need for federal funding for ornamental crop research crop-specific priorities. and presented that information