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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Griffin, Georgia » Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #211128
Title: In Vitro Maintenance of Bermudagrass Germplasm

Author
item Harrison, Melanie
item Pederson, Gary

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2007
Publication Date: 6/1/2007
Citation: Harrison Dunn, M.L., Pederson, G.A. 2007. In Vitro Maintenance of Bermudagrass Germplasm. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. CD-ROM.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: There are currently 213 accessions of bermudagrass (Cynodon sp.) maintained clonally by the Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit located in Griffin, Georgia as part of the National Plant Germplasm System. These accessions have been traditionally maintained as potted plants in the greenhouse. Due to the aggressive nature of many of the bermudagrass accessions, constant trimming and generous spacing between accessions is required in order to prevent cross-contamination of the accessions. Typical problems that arise when growing plants under greenhouse conditions also demand continual monitoring. This high amount of monitoring and required greenhouse space limits the efficiency of maintaining the collection. Additionally, back up of the material by the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation (NCGRP) in Fort Collins is not possible under these conditions. Effort is being made to transfer these accessions into tissue culture. Stolon cuttings surface sterilized in ethanol then bleach has proven the best method to transfer greenhouse plants to tissue culture with minimal contamination. Thus far, we have transferred approximately one-third of the Cynodon clonal collection into tissue culture. Frequent sub-culturing of the established accessions has been required, but simple changes to in vitro vessels from standard culture tubes to magenta boxes has extended the time between sub-culturing. Alterations in temperature and media constituents will be explored that may further extend this time. The establishment of an in vitro collection will allow for more efficient accession maintenance and back up of the material at NCGRP. It will also provide easier distribution of the material due to the fact that plant roots will not have to be washed free from soil before distibution. More efficient germplasm maintenance and distribution will allow for the acquisition of new material into the collection that was not feasible in the past and increase the overall value of the bermudagrass germplasm collection.