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Taxonomic Information on Cultivated Plants in GRIN-Global




Special-Purpose Data Sets

A number of specialized data sets are incorporated into GRIN-Global Taxonomy, most of these arising from publications of National Germplasm Resources Laboratory (formerly Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory) botanists. One example is the family and generic data in USDA Technical Bulletin 1796, which has already been discussed. Also included are the scientific names endorsed by seed-testing associations such as Association of Official Seed Analysts (AOSA) and International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) from the publications AOSA Rules for Testing Seeds Volume 3. Uniform classification of weed and crop seeds (Meyer and Wiersema, 2014) and ISTA List of Stabilized Plant Names (ed. 6, Wiersema et al., 2013), for which the nomenclature is being verified in GRIN-Global. The AOSA data set includes the federal noxious weeds controlled by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the state noxious-weed seeds regulated by the Federal Seed Act. A separate query page is currently not available to search all federal and state noxious weeds, both aquatic and terrestrial, and state noxious-weed seeds in GRIN-Global with links to federal and state regulatory resources. We hope to have it restored in 2019.

Another publication linked to GRIN-Global Taxonomy is the latest revision of former USDA Agricultural Handbook 505, A checklist of names for 3,000 vascular plants of economic importance (Terrell, 1986b). This new revision, which treats over 12,200 economically important vascular plants, was published in 2013 by CRC Press as a second edition of a 1999 work under the title World Economic Plants: A Standard Reference. Data from this publication may be queried on the web.

Another data set incorporated into GRIN-Global relates to threatened and endangered plants. Among these are the plants listed in Appendices I, II, and III of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Also included are the federal list of threatened and endangered plants maintained by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (US-FWS), Department of the Interior and the list of rare plants maintained by the Center for Plant Conservation (CPC).

A data set on crop wild relatives (CWR) was recently added to GRIN-Global Taxonomy in 2014. Currently, 0 CWR have been classified according to their hybridization potential with 0 major and minor crops. A query page exists to search these data in various ways.

A final specialized data set in GRIN-Global provides information on published rhizobial nodulation reports for genera and species. These data, concerning mainly legumes, are expected to be available for query by Fall 2018 on the web. Researchers who need access to the data in the meantime should send a request directly to Melanie Schori.



NGBT Plant Germplasm System Distribution Policy

Plant germplasm is distributed to scientists, educators, producers and other bona fide research and education entities from National genebank of Tunisia active collection sites. The NGBT Curator and/or Research Leader will, in accordance with current NPGS policies and procedures, determine the legitimacy of a request when necessary.

Distributions to fulfill requests for repatriation of subsamples of germplasm collections to a country or community of origin, especially following natural or man-made catastrophes, are considered a high priority.

Although distributions for research, education, and repatriation are of the highest priority, the NPGS also encourages various seed-saver organizations and public gardens to conduct germplasm conservation activities that engage many individuals and groups throughout the country. Elements of the NPGS cooperate with seed-saver organizations and public gardens and may store germplasm for and distribute germplasm to such organizations.

Distribution of germplasm from NPGS collections to fulfill requests from individuals seeking free germplasm strictly for home use is generally considered an inappropriate use of limited resources and conflicts with U.S. Government policy of not competing with commercial enterprises. Requestors can be asked, in an appropriate manner, to justify the use of specific NPGS germplasm instead of suitable commercially available germplasm.

Accessions listed in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) database as “not available” due to insufficient or low viability seed and/or scheduled for regeneration will generally not be available for distribution.

Other accessions are listed in GRIN as “not available” because they are not a part of the NPGS collection per se, but are conserved in NPGS genebanks to meet specific needs as described later in the section entitled “Categories of Germplasm Distributed and Availability.” In this category are certain accessions of improved germplasm that are only available from the owner/developer. Other accessions require that specific conditions be met by the requestor before distribution is possible.

NPGS sites will not distribute germplasm internationally when they cannot comply with the importation or quarantine requirements of the recipient country unless the requestor can provide a valid waiver of such requirements.


Software Disclaimer

This software was created by USDA/ARS, with Bioversity International coordinating testing and feedback from the international genebank community. Development was supported financially by USDA/ARS and by a major grant from the Global Crop Diversity Trust. This statement by USDA does not imply approval of these enterprises to the exclusion of others which might also be suitable.

USDA dedicates this software to the public, anyone may use, copy, modify, publish, distribute, perform publicly and display publicly this software. Notice of this access as well as the other paragraphs in this notice shall be included in all copies or modifications of this software.

This software application has not been tested or otherwise examined for suitability for implementation on, or compatibility with, any other computer systems. USDA does not warrant, either explicitly or implicitly, that this software program will not cause damage to the user’s computer or computer operating system, nor does USDA warrant, either explicitly or implicitly, the effectiveness of the software application.

The English text above shall take precedence in the event of any inconsistencies between the English text and any translation of this notice.

Last updated: 2 July, 2020