ISHS Acta Horticulturae 800: X International Pear Symposium
WORLD PYRUS COLLECTION AT USDA GENEBANK IN CORVALLIS, OREGON |
| Author: | J.D. Postman |
| Keywords: | Pyrus, pear, genebank |
| Abstract:
In 1980 the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), established a genebank, the National Clonal Germplasm Repository (NCGR) in Corvallis, Oregon. This facility is devoted to conservation of temperate fruit and nut crops. A globally diverse collection of Pyrus germplasm has been assembled and expanded over the subsequent 27 years. Unique pear genotypes are maintained as growing plants, evaluated for phenotypic and genotypic traits, tested for virus contamination, documented in a national public germplasm database, and freely distributed to international researchers. Seed collections represent wild Pyrus populations. The Corvallis genebank now maintains 2031 clonal Pyrus accessions and 327 seedlots representing 36 taxa from 53 countries. About 10% of clonal accessions are backed up either in vitro or as cryopreserved meristems. A DNA microsatellite fingerprint database has been initiated. About 75% of the clonal collection has tested negative for common latent viruses. During the past 3 years, on average 775 accessions were distributed annually to researchers around the world. While originally conceived as a working collection for crop improvement, this genebank also provides the raw materials for basic genetic research, and preserves rare species, vulnerable landraces and historic cultivars. The NCGR collection serves as a laboratory and a classroom to promote the preservation of pear genetic diversity for future generations. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
