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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Miami, Florida » Subtropical Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #238754
Title: THE TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL GERMPLASM COLLECTIONS AT THE NATIONAL GERMPLASM REPOSITORY IN MIAMI, FL

Author
item Ayala-Silva, Tomas
item Schnell Ii, Raymond

Submitted to: Journal of the American Pomological Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/2009
Publication Date: 1/4/2010
Citation: Ayala Silva, T., Schnell Ii, R.J. 2010. THE TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL GERMPLASM COLLECTIONS AT THE NATIONAL GERMPLASM REPOSITORY IN MIAMI, FL. Journal of American Pomological Society. 64(1):28-37.

Interpretive Summary: The Subtropical and Tropical USDA, ARS, National Germplasm Repositories (NGR) in Miami, FL; Mayaguez, PR; and Hilo, HI are responsible for the collections of subtropical and tropical fruits, nuts, grasses, and ornamentals for the USDA, ARS, National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS). The NPGS is responsible for managing plant genetic resources in the United States. This paper examines primarily the fruit and nut collections held by the NGR in Miami, FL. The Subtropical Horticultural Research Station (SHRS) in Miami, FL houses the repository which oversees approximately 5,000 accessions of tropical and subtropical fruits, ornamentals, sugarcane and their relatives. Research efforts are committed to answering questions that help curators safeguard and manage germplasm in a more effective and cost-efficient approach. The repository is managed by a curator/horticulturist, three research geneticists and a research molecular biologist. Current research, management tactics for safeguarding these collections and the measures for obtaining and distributing this germplasm are conferred here. Keywords: Fruits, NPGS, nuts, characterization, evaluation distributions

Technical Abstract: The Subtropical and Tropical USDA, ARS, National Germplasm Repositories (NGR) in Miami, FL; Mayaguez, PR; and Hilo, HI are responsible for the collections of subtropical and tropical fruits, nuts, grasses, and ornamentals for the USDA, ARS, National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS). The NPGS is responsible for managing plant genetic resources in the United States. This paper reviews primarily the fruit and nut collections held by the NGR in Miami, FL. The Subtropical Horticultural Research Station (SHRS) in Miami, FL houses the repository which manages approximately 5,000 accessions of fruit, nuts, ornamentals, sugarcane and their relatives. Research efforts are dedicated to answering questions that help curators conserve and manage genetic resources in a more effective and cost-efficient manner. The repository is managed by a curator/horticulturist, three research geneticists and a research molecular biologist. Ongoing research, management strategies for safeguarding these collections, and the procedures for requesting and distributing germplasm are discussed here. Keywords: Fruits, NPGS, nuts, characterization, evaluation, distributions