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Taxonomic Information on Cultivated Plants in GRIN-Global


Summary
Introduction
History of GRIN Taxonomy
Scope of GRIN Taxonomy
Scientific Names
Common Names
Economic Importance
Geographical Distribution
Literature References
Special-Purpose Data Sets
Basis of Taxonomic Decisions
Concluding Remarks
Acknowledgements
References Cited
Symbols and Abbreviations
Scope of GRIN-Global Taxonomy

Taxonomic and nomenclatural needs of National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) are now met through GRIN-Global by botanists of the National Germplasm Resources Laboratory (NGRL), which is responsible for the taxonomy area of the database. GRIN-Global Taxonomy is regularly updated to include accepted family and generic names. By necessity, all 1 230 specific and infraspecific taxa represented by germplasm in the NPGS are also included in this taxonomy, although that represents only about a quarter of all accepted names from these ranks in GRIN-Global. A broad range of economically important plants are treated by GRIN-Global nomenclature, including food or spice, timber, fiber, drug, forage, soil-building or erosion-control, genetic resource, poisonous, weedy, and ornamental plants. Most or all species of important agricultural crop genera are represented in GRIN-Global; for other less important economic genera, only a portion of the species may be represented. When all species of a genus are represented in GRIN-Global this is indicated by a comment in the GRIN-Global genus report. Reference to the literature cited in GRIN-Global may provide information relating to the treatment of other species.

The taxonomy area encompasses names governed by the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN; McNeill et al., 2012). Names treated under the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (Brickell et al., 2009), such as cultivars, may be linked to individual accessions in the accession area of GRIN-Global. These cultivar or other designations are provided only to the extent that they are represented by germplasm accessions. Their inclusion and verification is the responsibility of the site where the germplasm is maintained.



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.