Collecting in Central Asia: National Plant Germplasm System Plant Explorations

The USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System is charged with the preservation of economically important crop plants and their wild relatives.  Curators in the System strive to develop collections capturing the genetic diversity of each species.    One mechanism for filling gaps in collections is through plant exploration.  The process of NPGS plant germplasm exploration will be discussed using examples from collection missions in Central Asia.   The 2007 exploration for Taraxacum kok-sagys will be used a specific case study.