Most of the plants in the collections are maintained through vegetative propagation (by rooting cuttings or budding onto rootstocks) to preserve their unique traits.   The plants in the collections are grown in greenhouses, screen houses and as field plantings.   These genetic resources are made available to public and private plant researchers and growers worldwide.    

Funding for the Davis Repository is provided by the United States Department of Agriculture(USDA) through the Agricultural Research Service(ARS), in cooperation with the Universityof California, Davis (UCD).   The Davis Repository was initially funded by USDA-ARS through UCD but was fully federalized by 1989.   The DavisRepository maintains a close working relationship with the UCD Departments of Plant Sciencesand of Viticulture and Enology.   Many students from University departments are employed with the goal of providing them with training in laboratory and horticultural practices.