Palmer, Alaska is the location of a worksite of the Arctic, Subarctic, and Alpine Plant Genetic Resources Conservation, Research, and Information Management Unit located in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Agricultural development in arctic, subarctic, and alpine regions is
dependent on the availability of improved plant cultivars adapted to the
limiting growing conditions. However, the biological properties of high
latitude species and crops are lacking or poorly documented. Adequate
characterizations of germplasm and subsequent documentation in appropriate
databases are critical for germplasm management, utilization, and the
development of new crops at northern latitudes and high altitudes.

The Subarctic Agricultural Research Unit is the only unit of the United States
Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant
Germplasm System (NPGS) that addresses arctic, subarctic, and alpine
germplasm research. Primary goals are to acquire, propagate, preserve,
evaluate, and distribute arctic, subarctic, and alpine plant germplasm.
Objectives include conserve, evaluate, and distribute arctic, subarctic and
alpine-adapted plant germplasm and associated information to scientists
worldwide, characterize diseases and their etiological agents on selected
crop and native plant species from arctic, subarctic, and alpine ecosystems,
and identify key insect pests on selected crop and native plants. The
project supports the NPGS in the regeneration of accessions of seed and
clonal germplasm not adapted to other NPGS locations.

The goals of this project are to conserve, evaluate, and distribute a broad
spectrum of genetic resources of plants adapted to short cool seasons and
long photoperiod, to generate and manage associated information, and to
provide a scientific base for its use in research and crop improvement. This
will be achieved by accomplishing three objectives:

1. Conserve, evaluate, and distribute arctic, subarctic and
   alpine-adapted plant germplasm, and associated information to scientists'
   worldwide.
2. Characterize diseases and their etiological agents
   on selected crop and native plant species from arctic, subarctic, and alpine
   ecosystems.
3. Identify key insect pests on selected crop and
   native plant species from arctic, subarctic, and alpine ecosystems.

Scientists:

• Alberto Pantoja, RL/Research Entomologist
• Bonnie Furman, Curator
• Joe Kuhl, Research Geneticist
• Nancy Robertson, Research Plant Pathologist