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Title: Availability of genotypic data for USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System accessions using the Genetic Resources Information Network (GRIN) database

Author
item Volk, Gayle
item Richards, Christopher

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/5/2008
Publication Date: 7/1/2008
Citation: Volk, G.M., Richards, C.M. 2008. Availability of genotypic data for USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System accessions using the Genetic Resources Information Network (GRIN) database. HortScience 43:1365-1366.

Interpretive Summary: The USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) provides critical genetic resources to researchers and breeders world wide. 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 GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) database to hold raw data relating to molecular marker 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 interoperable with the NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) database as well as model organism molecular databases. The development of this capacity provides critical data infrastructure for future genotype-phenotype association studies and gene discovery.

Technical Abstract: The National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) provides critical genetic resources to researchers and breeders world wide. Users of the NPGS materials need access to both genotypic and phenotypic data for accessions. Descriptor records at the accession level within the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) allow researchers to identify germplasm on a defined set of phenotypic characters. New tables and codes have been added to the GRIN database to hold molecular marker and allele data, adding the capacity to associate genotypic data with the existing phenotypic capabilities of the system. 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 interoperable with the NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) database, clade organism databases, and model organism databases. The development of this capacity provides critical data infrastructure for future genotype-phenotype association studies and gene discovery.