Good genes – using germplasm and breeding to create new plants at the U.S. National Arboretum

The U.S. National Arboretum was established in 1927 and occupies 446 acres in Northeast Washington, D.C. Its mission is to enhance the economic, environmental, and aesthetic value of ornamental and landscape plants through long-term, multi-disciplinary research, conservation of genetic resources, and interpretative gardens and exhibits.
With an emphasis on collections, germplasm, and breeding, the USNA has released over 650 new cultivars of woody ornamental plants, including Glenn Dale azaleas, cold hardy camellias, disease resistant crapemyrtles and American elms, diverse viburnums, hybrid pyracantha, magnolia, hibiscus, red maples, lilacs, flowering cherries, and hollies.
All of these plants illustrate the importance that germplasm has on addressing disease and pest problems and bringing new plants to the landscape.
This paper provides a case study of how plant exploration and evaluation led to the development of disease-resistant plants (crapemyrtles), and the importance of germplasm collections in addressing new disease threats (boxwood). Some of the superior trees and shrubs that were developed more recently at the National Arboretum are also highlighted.

II International Symposium on Germplasm of Ornamentals

M. Pooler

cultivar, genetic resources, hybrids, ornamental plant, woody landscape plant

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2017.1185.1