Articles
RECENT NPGS COORDINATED EXPEDITIONS IN THE TRANS-CAUCASUS REGION TO COLLECT WILD RELATIVES OF TEMPERATE FRUIT AND NUT CROPS
Article number
948_21
Pages
191 – 198
Language
English
Abstract
The USDA Agricultural Research Service-managed National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) coordinated several germplasm expeditions in the trans-Caucasus countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia beginning in 2001. One of the goals was to preserve valuable wild relatives of crop species ex situ at genebanks in the host countries and in NPGS genebanks in the United States.
The Caucasus region is a center of origin for several important temperate fruit and nut crops that are conserved at NPGS facilities in Oregon, New York and California.
Seeds and cuttings of landrace cultivars and wild relatives were collected from diverse habitats in accordance with international agreements and national laws.
Since 2001, more than 50 unique accessions of Corylus (hazelnut), 20 Cydonia (quince), 23 Mespilus (medlar), 52 Pyrus (pear) and smaller numbers Amelanchier, Crataegus and Sorbus from these three trans-Caucasus nations have been added to the NPGS collections in Corvallis, Oregon.
Almost 50 Ficus samples, 125 Juglans, 53 Pistacia, 50 Punica, 70 Vitis and many accessions of various Prunus species went to the genebank in Davis, California. Malus (apple) samples numbered 30 and were deposited at the genebank in Geneva, New York.
Established accessions are evaluated for horticultural traits, environmental adaptations and pest resistance, and made available to researchers world-wide for genetic studies and crop improvement.
The Caucasus region is a center of origin for several important temperate fruit and nut crops that are conserved at NPGS facilities in Oregon, New York and California.
Seeds and cuttings of landrace cultivars and wild relatives were collected from diverse habitats in accordance with international agreements and national laws.
Since 2001, more than 50 unique accessions of Corylus (hazelnut), 20 Cydonia (quince), 23 Mespilus (medlar), 52 Pyrus (pear) and smaller numbers Amelanchier, Crataegus and Sorbus from these three trans-Caucasus nations have been added to the NPGS collections in Corvallis, Oregon.
Almost 50 Ficus samples, 125 Juglans, 53 Pistacia, 50 Punica, 70 Vitis and many accessions of various Prunus species went to the genebank in Davis, California. Malus (apple) samples numbered 30 and were deposited at the genebank in Geneva, New York.
Established accessions are evaluated for horticultural traits, environmental adaptations and pest resistance, and made available to researchers world-wide for genetic studies and crop improvement.
Publication
Authors
J.D. Postman, E. Stover, M.K. Aradhya, P.W. Meyer, K.A. Williams
Keywords
germplasm preservation, genebank, center of origin, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia
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