Botanical Support and Germplasm Acquisition for the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System

Goals / Objectives
1. Collaborate with the Plant Exchange Office (PEO) of the National Germplasm Resources Laboratory (NGRL) by supporting the conservation and collection of plant genetic resources for the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS). Support the PEO to provide data and analysis of Crop Wild Relatives, including research on Vitis species native to North America. 2. Provide support to the PEO taxonomic research program by assisting with finding qualified botanists for this project, and to provide administrative support to selected botanists. Address data gaps and deficiencies for both partners¿ databases, including nomenclatural, distributional, and other information.

Project Methods
1. The PEO will work with the Cooperator on identifying crop wild relatives in need of research, monitoring, and collection, including but not limited to Vitis (grape) species native to the US that are important for breeding the cultivated winegrape. Activities include conducting field work to monitor populations, analyzing data, and working with herbarium specimens in need of identification, annotation, and digitization. The Cooperator will assist the PEO on obtaining specific germplasm for the NPGS as identified by PEO. The PEO monitors collection activities, and collected germplasm and documentation is sent to the NPGS using established procedures. Germplasm may be obtained directly by the Cooperator or by the Cooperator¿s administrative support of partners approved by PEO to collect germplasm. All plant collections will be conducted in compliance with national and international laws and treaties affecting the acquisition and exchange of plant genetic resources. As mutually agreed, completed research may be considered for scientific publication in a peer-reviewed journal.