CRIS Project Title:  
Genetic Resources, Evaluation, and Information Management of Woody Landscape Plant Germplasm   

INTRODUCTION:  
Responsible for the conservation of 182 genera (over 5000 taxa) of woody landscape plants of diverse wild-origin; 2) to establish a viable repository (Woody Landscape Plant Germplasm Repository WLPGR) for the long term preservation of this germplasm in the form of seeds and clonal material; 3) to transfer technology and associated information for use in research and crop improvement; and 4) to establish, manage, and make available collections information by electronic links between US National Arboretum, National Plant Germplasm System and the public sector.      

PROGRESS:  
Germination tests of all Pinus, Picea, Abies, Deutzia, Callicarpa, and Viburnum accessions were performed to check the viability for the first time.  Additional germplasm was acquired, maintained, and distributed.  More than 2,160 plants are maintained in the field, as well as 1,200 seeds and 830 plants in containers in greenhouse or polyhouse, from over 900 accessions representing 150 different genera.  Based on the provenance trials, more than 30 superior forms of Halesia tetraptera var. tetraptera in floral size and density of floral distribution from over 500 plants (85 accessions) have been selected and propagated.  Reports have been presented on germplasm accession, preservation, and distribution to the Woody Ornamental Crop Germplasm Committee (WLP-CGC) and the North American-China Plant Exploration Consortium, and a Specific Cooperative Agreement with the American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta has been established.

PLANS:   
Continue to collect and conserve genetic resources and associated information for a broad spectrum of woody landscape plants and transfer technology in the form of the preceding genetic resources and associated information to researchers and breeders world wide. The overall objectives of the Woody Landscape Plant Germplasm Repository (WLPGR) are to introduce, maintain, and distribute diverse and wild-origin genetic resources of trees and shrubs for landscape use through collection, exchange, and evaluation.   Woody plant germplasm is also evaluated for production potential and further characterized using biochemical and molecular DNA technologies.

Back to the Arboretum Home Page
Arboretum Information || Events & Education || Gardens & Horticulture || Research Activities
Support the Arboretum || New Plant Introductions || USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map || Comments
Search Our Site

Last Updated   October 30, 2006 1:05 PM
URL = http://www.usna.usda.gov/Research/~rjg.html