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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Griffin, Georgia » Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #374886
Research Project: Conservation, Characterization, Evaluation, and Distribution of Grain, Oilseed, Vegetable, Subtropical and Tropical Legume, and Warm Season Grass Genetic Resources and Associated Information

Location: Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit

Title: Sunn Hemp vulnerability

Author
item Morris, John - Brad

Submitted to: Agronomy Society of America, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of America Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/8/2020
Publication Date: 11/9/2020
Citation: Morris, J.B. 2020. Sunn Hemp vulnerability. Agronomy Society of America, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of America Meeting. p. 1.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The value of sunn hemp is very difficult to determine since statistical reports are not updated for this species and consist of little production data. However, sunn hemp remains useful as a major component in industrial markets such as biofuel, fiber, and cover cropping. Sunn hemp is adapted to a wide range of soil and climatic conditions and it can have a significant economic impact for these industries as well as social and environmental benefits. The USDA, ARS sunn hemp collection is maintained by the Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit (PGRCU) in Griffin, GA. The PGRCU has greenhouse facilities, laboratories, and –18°C and 4°C storage freezers on site. Passport data are recorded in GRIN and are publicly available (USDA 2020). If available, passport data usually include: collection site, general description of the site and the accessions, latitude, longitude, GPS coordinates, elevation, and habitat information. Other information recorded in GRIN include accession number (PI and/or GRIF), collector (if from an exploration), date when accession was received, backup status, accession name, availability, narrative (about the accession), source history (development or collection information), pedigree, and observation (phenotypic and genotypic data). One curator and technician, are responsible for sunn hemp curation activities at PGRCU, Griffin, GA. Greenhouse, field, and lab resources are available for regenerating and conducting biochemical analysis on the germplasm. The objective of this report is to provide background, benefits and the current status of sunn hemp in order to determine curatorial needs and projections for future action to preserve this crop and its relatives.