Proposed Ecological Descriptors and Their Utility for Plant Germplasm Collections

Plant germplasm collections are important repositories of genes that ensure potentially useful sources of genetic variation are preserved for future uses. Detailed information about genetic differences among individuals or groups of accessions can be helpful for management and utilization of germplasm collections. Presently, a description of the collection site is required when collecting accessions, but the kinds and amount of information recorded that describe the natural environmental features of the collection site may vary greatly depending on the collector. This paper discusses the need for providing standardized and detailed ecological descriptors for collected accessions that can be entered into the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) database and provides a set of necessary tools to accomplish this. Proposed in this paper are (i) a flexible set of ecological descriptors that capture the most important ecological features of the collection site and its environment so that a standardized description can be given of the natural conditions where accessions are found, (ii) revised ac cession data collection form that can be used to describe the natural features of the collection site, and (iii) a method to retroclassify poorly documented accessions that do not have detailed descriptions of the collection site. The widely adapted perennial forage legume birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) is used to demonstrate the principles presented in this paper.