Germplasm Exploration and Preservation

The primary objective of germplasm exploration and preservation is to collect and store valuable genetic stocks useful for agriculture; a secondary objective is to obtain herbarium vouchers and other materials for taxonomic study. This chapter describes clover (Trifolium) germplasm exploration and the handling of material gathered. Short accounts of exploration trips made by the authors, which may be useful for planning future expeditions, are given. Collectors should gather as much information as possible on the area to be explored for germplasm. When a desired specimen is located, the collector should immediately assign it a collection field number and record in the field book important information such as location, elevation, soil type, terrain, accompanying vegetation, and species, if known. Collected material is most easily stored as herbarium specimens or as seeds. Seeds should be thoroughly cleaned and appropriately labeled at the laboratory or sent to a central receiving center.