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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fort Collins, Colorado » Center for Agricultural Resources Research » Agricultural Genetic Resources Preservation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #416632

Research Project: Curation and Research to Safeguard and Expand Collections of Plant and Microbial Genetic Resources and Associated Descriptive Information

Location: Agricultural Genetic Resources Preservation Research

Title: The USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System: Critical importance and impacts of long-term ex situ conservation

Author
item Volk, Gayle
item BRETTING, PETER - Retired ARS Employee

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/2024
Publication Date: 11/20/2024
Citation: Volk, G.M., Bretting, P.K. 2024. The USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System: Critical importance and impacts of long-term ex situ conservation [abstract]. X International Scientific and Practical Conference on Biotechnology as an Instrument for Plant Biodiversity Conservation. p. 26.

Interpretive Summary: N/A

Technical Abstract: The USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) plays a critical role in the conservation and use of plant genetic resources (PGR) both nationally and internationally. The NPGS conserves 620,000+ accessions of PGR of crops and crop wild relatives and annually distributes 200,000+ PGR samples globally. Throughout its long history, NPGS samples have been used in research, breeding, and educational programs that directly impact agricultural production through the development of new cultivars that are tolerant to environmental extremes, resistant to pests and diseases, and yield more and higher quality products. Despite its recognized importance, the NPGS is challenged by operational backlogs for PGR collection management that are described in the NPGS Strategic Plan released in 2023. In addition to addressing those operational challenge, the NPGS Plan describes innovations in genomics, phenomics, biotechnology, agronomy, horticulture, seed science, and cryobiology under development that, once deployed, could ensure that NPGS PGR continue to remain available for underpinning global food security.