4a.List the single most significant research accomplishment during FY 2006.
This Agreement established the framework for collaborative research to provide expertise in germplasm collection and storage of native Fraxinus threatened by the Emerald Ash Borer. The Agreement focuses on the collection of black ash, a valued species for basketmaking, from native Indian tribal lands, although the Agreement also includes the storage of all native Fraxinus.

Fifteen Fraxinus seed collections were stored in FY 2006, representing five species and four collections from Indian tribal land. Poor seed quality due mainly to insect damage prevented the storage of an additional 13 collections.

4b.List other significant research accomplishment(s), if any.
NCGRP actively participated in the development of a North American strategy for Fraxinus collection in anticipation of the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer and prepared a paper outlining Fraxinus seed collection and storage procedures to aid Indian tribes in the collection and storage of their valued genetic resources.

4c.List significant activities that support special target populations.
This project directly effects and benefits Indian tribes in lake states by targeting the preservation of valued genetic resources from Indian tribal lands. Black ash is of economic and cultural significance to the Indian tribes in the lake states as it is used extensively for basket making. The black ash resource is threatened by the Emerald Ash Borer and the collection and preservation of seed from this species will ensure that the genetic resource is available for future Native Indian generations. This Agreement provides the service of safe storage of the Fraxinus germplasm in trust for the Indian tribes as well as the training and assistance to the Indian tribes for establishing good and safe seed storage facilities of their own. NCGRP personnel have been key in working with the Indian tribes to ensure the safe preservation of their genetic resources, either at the NCGRP or by the Indian tribes themselves.

4d.Progress report.
This report serves to document research conducted under the Non-Funded Cooperative Agreement # 58-5402-5-0106N between ARS and USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent project 5402-21000-006-00D Preservation and Quality Assessment of Plant Genetic Resources.

The objective of this Agreement establish a general framework for the cooperation and participation among the cooperators in the conservation of Fraxinus spp. in potential decline due to the presence of the introduced pest Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) (Emerald Ash Borer). Black Ash is of cultural value to Native American Indian populations in the Great Lake Region who have expressed interest in maintaining, specifically the black ash species. This Agreement was extended to include other Fraxinus species as well as non-Fraxinus species in the same ecosystems that may also be affected by the infestation of the Emerald Ash Borer.

The cooperators propose to work together to provide a secure back-up or primary storage facility for the storage of this valuable plant germplasm and to incorporate this germplasm into a central data system, the Germplasm Resources Information System (GRIN) database of the USDA’s National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS).