Project Number: 5402-21000-011-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Oct 17, 2003
End Date: Oct 16, 2008

Objective:
The Plant Germplasm Preservation Research Unit develops cost-effective strategies to conserve the genetic diversity of plants with current or future importance to US agriculture and landscapes. Research is expected to provide a fundamental understanding of preservation technologies within the context of the conservation target (populations, genotypes, genes), other conservation steps (acquisition and regeneration), and the intended use of germplasm (usually breeding or restoration). Activities will (1) develop tools to expand genebanks' capacities to assess and efficiently capture genetic diversity (2) enhance longevity of stored germplasm, and (3) improve tools that validate and predict viability and genetic integrity of accessions. The advanced knowledge gained by these activities will lead to economical genebank management and genetic resources that are useful, replenishable and genetically representative of the original population or individual.

Approach:
The PGPRU integrates mechanistic studies of damage and protection of cells during preservation stresses with population genetic approaches. Physiologically and genetically diverse germplasm is used to determine how cells survive low temperature, desiccation and aging stresses, develop new ways to preserve propagules, and measure health and genetic shifts during genebanking. Quantifying heterogeneity ensures that representative genetic variability is captured and maintained, preservation procedures are broadly applicable, and collection sizes are manageable. The focus on variability and mechanisms of change in genebank collections will be used in models that predict longevity and risks of genetic erosion with different conservation strategies.