Project Number: 5402-21000-006-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Aug 05, 2003
End Date: Aug 04, 2008

Objective:
To effectively safeguard, preserve, monitor, and document viable seed and propagules of diverse plant genetic resources in long-term storage. The role of the Seed Viability and Storage Unit (SVSRU) is both research and service. The service component is a very critical component of this project as it assures food security both, nationally and internationally, and makes those resources available to the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) active sites. These objectives are accomplished by: (1) providing long-term storage, monitoring, and documentation for the base collection of all plant germplasm within the NPGS, and for plant germplasm of contracting organizations, including international organizations; (2) obtaining and preserving seed of plants indigenous to the United States that have been collected by NPGS curators and staff; Federal and state government agencies; and other public and private organizations; and (3) fostering international collaborations; providing security backup; transfering technology; and providing training in long-term germplasm preservation for domestic and international scientists.

Approach:
The major activity is to preserve germplasm samples received from plant explorations, plant breeders, National Plant Germplasm System Repositories, Plant Variety Protection Office, and from Crop Science Society Registrations. All seed and pollen samples will be equilibrated to optimum moisture content, tested for viability, and stored for long-term preservation. Vegetatively-propagated germplasm is prepared for storage using protocols developed for each species and is stored in liquid nitrogen.