The National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation Dave Ellis Curator Perspective Fort Collins, Colorado USA

NCGRP Structure Plants Plants Plant Genetic Resources Preservation Program Plant Genetic Resources Preservation Program Plant Germplasm Preservation Research Plant Germplasm Preservation Research Animals (1999) Animals (1999) National Animal Germplasm National Animal Germplasm Program Program

The National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation (NCGRP) (April 2010) Research and storage facility for genetic resources Plants – primarily seeds Animals – primarily semen Microbes and insects >835,000 seed collections Focus on agricultural crops -18 o C + LN 2 (-196 o C) Secure facilities Controlled physical access High security

Two major collections Base Collection = National Plant Germplasm System (April 2010) 529,063 samples 1,243 genera 7,417 species Public asset – global resource Safety back-up >300,000 samples Owned by donor Use or distribution only with owner’s permission CIMMYT & IRRI

2009 NCGRP Plant Statistics 113, 192 new samples received 14,877 base collection 128 tissue culture - short-term storage 655 Crop Science Registration + PVP 78,190 safety back-up 23,984 germinations performed 20,862 by NCGRP 3,122 by CSU-CSL 15,586 = monitor tests

Why the Drop Every 4 Years?

PGRPP Curator = non crop specific Curator = non crop specific Back-up base collections Back-up base collections Work with curators Work with curators Interact internationally Interact internationally Svalbard, Mexico repartiation, CG centers Svalbard, Mexico repartiation, CG centers Black box collections Black box collections Vavilov Vavilov Facilitate collections/exchange Facilitate collections/exchange

Collaborate with sites Facilitate back-up of collections Facilitate back-up of collections Requires curator support Requires curator support Sweet potato Sweet potato Short-term back-up of TC Short-term back-up of TC Griffin sends cultures Griffin sends cultures Long-term back of TC Long-term back of TC Fort Collins does cryo work Fort Collins does cryo work Pear Pear Research collaboration Research collaboration Dormant bud technology Dormant bud technology

NCGRP roles with CGCs Cross cutting across CGCs Cross cutting across CGCs Let me know if you think I have a place at yours Let me know if you think I have a place at yours Interaction with CGCs helps us aid and facilitate recommendations Interaction with CGCs helps us aid and facilitate recommendations One step removed from crop curator but can facilitate One step removed from crop curator but can facilitate Represent “system” on curatorial level Represent “system” on curatorial level NPGS success = key to NCGRP success NPGS success = key to NCGRP success

Congressional visit to Svalbard Global Seed Vault From left to right: Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Rep. Louise McIntosh Slaughter (D-NY), Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Dr. Cary Fowler, Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM), Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), Ambassador Barry White, Rep. Robert B. Aderholt (R-AL), and Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)

Benefits of CGCs Vulnerability report Vulnerability report Network, Support Network, Support Extend knowledge about NPGS Extend knowledge about NPGS Evaluation/characterization Evaluation/characterization Identify opportunities/challenges Identify opportunities/challenges New germplasm New germplasm Enthusiasm Enthusiasm