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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Pullman, Washington » Plant Germplasm Introduction and Testing Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #151408
Title: USING GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION TO ACQUIRE WILD CROP GERMPLASM FOR EX SITU COLLECTIONS: MAP DEVELOPMENT AND FIELD USE.

Author
item Greene, Stephanie
item HART, THOMAS - SPATIAL DATA ASSOC.
item AFONIN, ALEXANDR - ST. PETERSBURG UNIV.

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/19/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: Greene, S.L., T.C. Hart, A. Afonin. 1999. Using geographic information to acquire wild crop germplasm for ex situ collections: I. map development and field use. Crop Science 39:836-842.

Interpretive Summary: A common method for collecting germplasm diversity is to collect from geographically distinct populations. The objective of this study was to show how geographic information can provide a new level of precision for understanding landscape variation and help collectors find germplasm growing in diverse sites. An exploration to collect forage legumes in the Caucasus mountains, Russia, in 1995 was used as a case study. The development of a GIS database and accompanying map products and how these products were used to guide collecting are discussed. Information sources included Russian maps, orbital satellite imagery, remotely-sensed elevation data, and long term climate data from weather stations. A GIS database was developed and used to produce the following maps: soil classification, roads and trails, vegetation, and topography. Climate modeling techniques were used to create maps reflecting climate zones. Assessment of map-based and site-specific geographic feature during the collection trip provided collectors with an increased understanding of how the physical features of the collection landscape may have influenced the geographic differentiation of 75% of the germplasm accessions collected.

Technical Abstract: A common strategy for sampling intraspecific genetic diversity is to maximize sampling geographically distinct populations. The objective of this study was to illustrate how geographic information coupled with geographic information system analysis (GIS) can provide a new level of precision for establishing frameworks for sampling germplasm occurring in diverse sites. An exploration to collect forage legumes in the Caucasus mountains, Russia, in 1995 was used as a case study. The development of a GIS database and accompanying map products and how these products were used to guide collecting are discussed. Information souces included Russian maps, orbital satellite imagery, remotely-sensed elevation data, and long term climate data from weather stations. A GIS database was developed and used to produce the following maps: soil classification, roads and trails, vegetation, and topography. Climate modeling techniques were used to create maps reflecting climate zones. Assessment of map-based and site-specific geographic feature during the collection trip provided collectors with an increased understanding of how the physical features of the collection landscape may have influenced the geographic differentiation of 75% of the germplasm accessions collected.