Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » National Clonal Germplasm Repository » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #297156
Title: Sambucus genetic resources at the U.S.D.A. National Clonal Germplasm Repository, Corvallis, Oregon

Author
item Bushakra, Jill
item Bassil, Nahla
item Finn, Chad
item Hummer, Kim

Submitted to: Acta Horticulture Proceedings
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/7/2014
Publication Date: 1/1/2015
Citation: Bushakra, J., Bassil, N.V., Finn, C.E., Hummer, K.E. 2015. Sambucus genetic resources at the USDA. National Clonal Germplasm Repository, Corvallis, Oregon. Acta Horticulture Proceedings. 1061:135-14.

Interpretive Summary: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Clonal Germplasm Repository in Corvallis, OR preserves the genetic diversity of elderberry. This genebank preserves representatives of seven of the nine major world elderberry species and 50 cultivars including types selected for fruit, as well as ornanmental forms. The priority emphasis of the collection is to maintain diverse species and edible-fruited cultivars from around the world. The goal of the Repository is to maintain, distribute and evaluate the genetic diversity of elderberry and the other assigned crops.

Technical Abstract: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), National Clonal Germplasm Repository (NCGR-Corvallis) preserves the genetic diversity of elderberry (Sambucus L.). This genebank preserves representatives of seven of the nine major world Sambucus species and 50 cultivars, including types selected for fruit, as well as gold, purple, and cut-leaf forms. The priority emphasis of the collection is to maintain diverse species and edible-fruited cultivars. Recent USDA plant collecting trips in the Russian Far East, Republic of Georgia, Armenia, and Japan have obtained seed accessions of Sambucus crop wild relatives. The genebank collection includes plant material from 31 different countries, with the most accessions from the U.S., Russia, China, Japan, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Canada. The primary clonal collection is preserved as plants in a field genebank with seedlots of wild-collected material stored at -20oC, thus preserving species diversity. Recent evaluation projects have determined horticultural morphological descriptors and phytochemical fruit components for selected American elderberry (Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis) individuals. Passport and evaluation information is maintained on the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), which is a publicly accessible database. Orders for limited propagules for research purposes can be placed through GRIN. Import permits may be required for non-US requestors.