Preserving the Future with the USDA Plant Genetic Resource Unit Tart Cherry, Grape, and Apple Germplasm Collections

Abstract

Preservation of crop genetic diversity is critical for the future of American agriculture. The USDA-ARS Plant Genetic Resources Unit (PGRU) at Cornell AgriTech, Geneva, NY preserves collections of apples, cold-hardy grapes, tart cherries, and their wild relatives. These collections hold vast potential to improve our horticultural crops through environmental adaptations, pest and disease resistance, and novel fruit qualities. PGRU’s mission is to maintain, acquire, distribute, and conduct research to support global conservation efforts and promote the use of these resources. Over the past decade, PGRU has distributed nearly 65,000 samples from its collections, representing cuttings for propagation, pollen, seeds, vegetative tissues, and DNA. Clonal propagation is used to preserve cultivar and type specimens. The aim of this article is to highlight the value of PGRU collections, describe how they can promote sustainability for the US apple, grape, and tart cherry industries, and address some of the maintenance challenges of preserving clonally propagated crops.