The Tropical and Subtropical Germplasm Collections at the National Germplasm Repository in Miami, Florida

Abstract

The Subtropical and Tropical USDA, ARS, National Germplasm Repositories (NGR) in Miami, FL, Mayaguez, PR, and Hilo, HI are responsible for the collections of subtropical and tropical fruits, nuts, grasses, and ornamentals for the USDA, ARS, National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS). The NPGS is responsible for managing plant genetic resources in the United States. This paper reviews primarily the fruit and nut collections held by the NGR in Miami, FL. The Subtropical Horticultural Research Station in Miami, FL houses the repository which manages approximately 5,000 accessions of fruit, nuts, ornamentals, sugarcane and their relatives. Research efforts are dedicated to answering questions that help curators conserve and manage genetic resources in a more effective and cost-efficient manner. The repository is managed by a curator/horticulturist, three research geneticists and a research molecular biologist. Ongoing research, management strategies for safeguarding these collections, and the procedures for requesting and distributing germplasm are discussed here.