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Title: ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW GENEBANK FOR HERBACEOUS ORNAMENTAL PLANTS

Author
item TAY, DAVID - OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
item Widrlechner, Mark
item CORFIELD, JAMES - GENEVA IL

Submitted to: Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/23/2004
Publication Date: 7/22/2004
Citation: Tay, D., Widrlechner, M.P., Corfield, J.L. 2004. Establishment of a new genebank for herbaceous ornamental plants. Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter. v. 137. p. 26-33.

Interpretive Summary: This paper summarizes the establishment of the new Ornamental Plant Germplasm Center (OPGC) at The Ohio State University (OSU) in Columbus, Ohio. The OPGC is the newest active site in the network of the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) and the only one exclusively devoted to the conservation of herbaceous ornamental plants. In this paper, we describe its genesis from a concept to the signing of a Special Cooperative Agreement (SCA) between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and OSU. The renewable, five-year term SCA provides the overall project objectives, a statement of mutual interest, the general approaches to be taken, and a description of the parties' responsibilities for specific aspects of the work. The roles of the Herbaceous Ornamental Crop Germplasm Committee (HOCGC) and the OPGC Ad-hoc Advisory Committee in shaping the foundation of the OPGC, leading to the appointment of key staff members, are described. The OPGC was officially inaugurated in July 2001, and a revised mission statement, center objectives, functions, benefits and a three-phase development plan were presented to and approved by the HOCGC. The HOCGC recommended a list of 30 ornamental plant genera of high priority for conservation, including such popular plants as begonias, mums, carnations, daylilies, and geraniums. At this initial stage of development, the OPGC is concentrating its initial efforts mainly on four economically important plants: begonias, impatiens, petunias, and geraniums. So far, nearly 1000 different kinds of herbaceous ornamentals that had been conserved at other NPGS genebanks were transferred to the OPGC and more than 700 new types were acquired. The accomplishments of the past two years of operation are highlighted, and the first-year annual report is posted on the OPGC website at http://opgc.osu.edu. The information presented in this report should be useful for plant scientists interested in acquiring ornamental germplasm, for genebank managers, and all those interested in institutional history and the creation of new institutions.

Technical Abstract: This paper summarizes the establishment and development of the new Ornamental Plant Germplasm Center (OPGC) of the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS), its initial accomplishments, and future plans. We recount its genesis from a concept to the signing of a Special Cooperative Agreement (SCA) in 1999 between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and The Ohio State University. The renewable, five-year term SCA provides the overall project objectives, a statement of mutual interest, the general approaches to be taken, and a description of the parties' responsibilities for specific aspects of the work. The roles of the Herbaceous Ornamental Crop Germplasm Committee (HOCGC) and the OPGC Ad-hoc Advisory Committee in shaping the foundation of the OPGC, leading to the appointment of an interim center program director and the employment of the center director and curator are described. The OPGC was officially inaugurated in July 2001, and a revised mission statement, center objectives, functions, benefits and a three-phase development plan were presented to and approved by the HOCGC. The HOCGC recommended a list of 30 priority genera (Aglaonema, Alstroemeria, Anthurium, Aquilegia, Aster, Baptisia, Begonia, Campanula, Chrysanthemum,, Dianthus, Dieffenbachia, Euphorbia, Geranium, Hemerocallis, Impatiens, Iris, Lilium, Narcissus, Pelargonium, Petunia, Phalaenopsis, Philodendron, Phlox, Rudbeckia, Salvia, Spathiphyllum, Tagetes, Verbena, Veronica and Viola) for conservation. At this initial stage of development, a decision was made to concentrate initial efforts mainly on four economically important genera (Begonia, Impatiens, Petunia, and Pelargonium). A strategic planning session was conducted in July 2002 to appraise the achievements and formulate an implementation plan to the end of the current SCA in August 2004. Progress in meeting the objectives of the development plan is described. To date, 966 accessions of herbaceous ornamental species conserved at other NPGS repositories were transferred to the OPGC and more than 700 new accessions were acquired. The accomplishments of the past two years of operation are highlighted, and the first year annual report is posted on the OPGC website at http://opgc.osu.edu.