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Title: Germplasm Preservation of Vegetatively-propagated Crops at the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation

Author
item Jenderek, Maria
item Ambruzs, Barbara - Bobbie Ambruzs
item Holman, Gregory
item Skogerboe, Dianne
item Staats, Elise
item Turner, Marie
item Ellis, David

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/28/2007
Publication Date: 7/1/2007
Citation: Jenderek, M.M., Ambruzs, B.D., Holman, G.E., Skogerboe, D.M., Staats, E.R., Turner, M., Ellis, D.D. 2007. Germplasm Preservation of Vegetatively-propagated Crops at the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation. American Society for Horticultural Science, HortScience. July 16-19, 2007.Scottsdale, Arizona. 42:962. Meeting Abstract.

Interpretive Summary: Out of 476,049 germpaslm accessions maintained by the USDA, ARS, National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS), ca. 30,000 are vegetaively-propagated and as such require preservation as non seed propagules. Numerous research reports demonstrated the advantages of long term storage of plant tissues in liquid nitrogen over field only maintained collections. While successful cryopreservation protocols were established for many plant species, the protocols are usually not applicable for the entire collection of a species or genus they were developed, and have to be modified for accessions not responding to the procedure. Currently, the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation maintains over 3,150 vegetatively-propagated accessions in liquid nitrogen or liquid nitrogen vapor (Allium sativum, Corylus, Cynodon, Fragaria, Humulus, Ipomoea, Lolium, Malus, Mentha, Prunus, Pyrus, Ribes, and Rubus) as dormant buds or apical shoot tips. Even with these successes, approximately 90% of the vegetative-propagated genetic resources in the NPGS, are not backed up under long term storage conditions. Preliminary studies have been initiated on the cryopreservation of priority species selected by the NPGS curators, include Juglans cinerea, J. regia, Prunus armeniaca, P. dulcis, and Punica granatumum, with an emphasis on using dormant buds over aseptically preserved tissues.

Technical Abstract: Out of 476,049 germpaslm accessions maintained by the USDA, ARS, National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS), ca. 30,000 are vegetaively-propagated and as such require preservation as non seed propagules. Numerous research reports demonstrated the advantages of long term storage of plant tissues in liquid nitrogen over field only maintained collections. While successful cryopreservation protocols were established for many plant species, the protocols are usually not applicable for the entire collection of a species or genus they were developed, and have to be modified for accessions not responding to the procedure. Currently, the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation maintains over 3,150 vegetatively-propagated accessions in liquid nitrogen or liquid nitrogen vapor (Allium sativum, Corylus, Cynodon, Fragaria, Humulus, Ipomoea, Lolium, Malus, Mentha, Prunus, Pyrus, Ribes, and Rubus) as dormant buds or apical shoot tips. Even with these successes, approximately 90% of the vegetative-propagated genetic resources in the NPGS, are not backed up under long term storage conditions. Preliminary studies have been initiated on the cryopreservation of priority species selected by the NPGS curators, include Juglans cinerea, J. regia, Prunus armeniaca, P. dulcis, and Punica granatumum, with an emphasis on using dormant buds over aseptically preserved tissues.