Plant Germplasm Resources

Landraces and wild relatives of crops from centers of diversity have been rich sources of resistance to new pathogens, insect pests, and other stresses as well as for traits to improve food and fiber quality, animal feed, and industrial products. Because very few crops grown in the U.S. are native, plant introductions are vital to our agriculture. The National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) was established to acquire, preserve, and distribute plant genetic resources from around the world so that scientists have immediate access to these source materials. The active collection is maintained and distributed by 19 national germplasm repositories. The base collection is preserved at -I8°C at the National Seed Storage Laboratory. The NPGS's genetic resources are made freely available to all bona fide users for the benefit of humankind. Recent international agreements such as the Biodiversity Convention will impact acquisition and exchange of germplasm, but the NPGS goal is to maintain the germplasm exchange critical to feeding the increasing world population in the future.