Japan - United States Expedition to Hokkaido and Northern Honshu to collect Fruit and Nut Genetic Resources

Authors: Hummer, Kim; Postman, Joseph; IKETANI, HIROYUKI - National Institute Of Animal Health - Japan (NIAH, NARO); IMANISHI, HIROYUKI - Akita Prefectural University

Submitted to: International Horticultural Congress
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/23/2010
Publication Date: 8/23/2010
Citation: Hummer, K.E., Postman, J.D., Iketani, H., Imanishi, H. 2010. Japan - United States Expedition to Hokkaido and Northern Honshu to collect Fruit and Nut Genetic Resources. International Horticultural Congress. 2:524.

Interpretive Summary: From September 7 to 25, 2009, Japanese and U.S. scientists collaborated on an expedition to collect genetic resources of temperate fruit genera throughout Hokkaido, and Northern Honshu, Japan. A non-funded cooperative agreement was prepared, according to the rules of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. This expedition was a joint effort between, the Japanese Ministry of Forestry and Fisheries, the United States Department of Agriculture and Akita Prefectural University, Japan. Additional assistance was provided by the Hokkaido Governmental Plant Genetic Resources Center, Forest and Forest Product Research Institute of Hokkaido, Hokkaido Agricultural Research Center, and private botanists. Plant materials were shared between the scientists of both countries. The expedition toured many localities in Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, and Akita Prefectures. Different ecosystems were visited including upland forest, coastal marshes, upland bogs, and dense forests. The expedition obtained 147 seed and plant samples representing 21 genera and 53 species. The temperate fruit, nut and specialty crop genera collected include: Hardy kiwifruit, Japanese quince, hazelnut, hawthorn, crowberry, hop, strawberry, blue honeysuckle, wolfberry, apple, mint, pear, currants, raspberries, mountain ash, blueberry relatives and grapes. Accessions from this trip are preserved at the USDA ARS National Clonal Germplasm Repository in Corvallis, Oregon. Morphological and molecular evaluation of this germplasm will be conducted at the USDA ARS Corvallis Repository and the Japanese Ministry of Forestry and Fisheries, National Institute of Fruit Tree Science, Tsukuba.

Technical Abstract: From 7 to 25 September 2009, Japanese and U.S. scientists collaborated on an expedition to collect genetic resources of temperate fruit genera throughout Hokkaido, and Northern Honshu, Japan. A non-funded cooperative agreement was prepared, according to the rules of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. This expedition was a collaborative effort between, the Japanese Ministry of Forestry and Fisheries, the United States Department of Agriculture and Akita Prefectural University, Japan. Additional assistance was provided by the Hokkaido Governmental Plant Genetic Resources Center, Forest and Forest Product Research Institute of Hokkaido, Hokkaido Agricultural Research Center, and private botanists. Plant materials were shared between the scientists of both countries. The expedition toured many localities in Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, and Akita Prefectures. Different ecosystems were visited including upland forest, coastal marshes, upland bogs, and dense forests. The expedition obtained 147 seed and plant samples representing 21 genera and 53 species. The temperate fruit, nut and specialty crop genera collected include: Actinidia, Chaenomeles, Corylus, Crataegus, Empetrum, Gaultheria, Humulus, Fragaria, Lonicera, Lycium, Malus, Mentha, Humulus, Prunella, Potentilla, Pyrus, Ribes, Rubus, Sorbus, Vaccinium and Vitis. Accessions from this trip are preserved at the USDA ARS National Clonal Germplasm Repository in Corvallis, Oregon. Morphological and molecular evaluation of this germplasm will be conducted at the USDA ARS Corvallis Repository and the Japanese Ministry of Forestry and Fisheries, National Institute of Fruit Tree Science, Tsukuba.