Integration of georeferencing, habitat, sampling, and genetic data for documentation of wild plant genetic resources

Authors: Volk, Gayle; Richards, Christopher

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/16/2011
Publication Date: 11/1/2011
Citation: Volk, G.M., Richards, C.M. 2011. Integration of georeferencing, habitat, sampling, and genetic data for documentation of wild plant genetic resources. HortScience. 46(11): 1446-1449.

Interpretive Summary: Plant genetic resource collections, such as the USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS), provide novel materials to the breeding and research communities. Many of the accessions within the NPGS do not have complete data documentation for their origins and sources. Availability of detailed documentation of origin, descriptors, and genetic data increases the value of the genebanked plant materials. Inclusion of latitude and longitude data, original habitat, and method of sampling data in collection databases facilitates interpretation of genetic data for genebank accessions with wild origins. This manuscript describes how detailed original source information, genetic assessments of germplasm collections can go beyond the basic measurements of collection diversity and breeding for simple traits to assessments of natural variation in environmental contexts, allowing for the identification of complex traits and adaptations for future breeding advancements. These uses further validate the collection and maintenance of wild crop relatives in genebank collections.

Technical Abstract: Plant genetic resource collections provide novel materials to the breeding and research communities. Availability of detailed documentation of passport, phenotypic, and genetic data increases the value of the genebank accessions. Inclusion of georeferenced sources, habitats, and sampling data in collection databases facilitates interpretation of genetic data for genebank accessions with wild origins. With detailed original source information, genetic assessments of germplasm collections can go beyond the basic measurements of collection diversity and breeding for simple traits to assessments of natural variation in environmental contexts, allowing for the identification of complex traits and adaptations for future breeding advancements. These uses further validate the collection and maintenance of wild crop relatives in genebank collections.