New Clonal Emphasis for the Arctic and Sub-Arctic Plant Genetic Resources Unit in Palmer, AK

The United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service (USDA/ARS) Arctic and Sub-arctic Plant Genetic Resources Unit (ASPGRU) was established in 2001 and was recently realigned with the USDA/ARS National Clonal Germplasm Repository in Corvallis, Oregon. ASPGRU is now one of the clonal genebanks of the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) and works in collaboration with the University of Alaska – Fairbanks, School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences at the Matanuska Experiment Farm in Palmer, Alaska.  This genebank now has a primary focus on four clonal genera; Mentha, Paeonia, Ribes, Rheum, in addition to about 20 others of horticultural, agronomic or reclamation interest to the circumpolar region. These plants are adapted to short cool seasons and a long photoperiod. The goals of this unit are to conserve, evaluate, and distribute these plants and to generate and manage associated information. This unit will provide scientific support for crop improvement and production in the arctic region. The ASPGRU collection contains approximately 29 genera and 112 species. The Mentha collection is established as greenhouse plants. Field demonstration gardens will be established during summer plantings. The collection is presently expanding to include Peonia and some arctic and sub-arctic small fruits. The Ribes, Rheum, and Paeonia collections will be maintained in the field with backup plants in the greenhouse. Plants will be monitored for plant pathogens using serological methods (western analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays) and molecular techniques (polymerase chain reaction  and sequencing) for definitive identification. A combination of heat therapy and tissue micropropagation will be utilized to establish and maintain healthy plants for distribution.  Studies will begin examining plant phenology and adaptation related to global climate change.  Information on ASPGRU germplasm can be found via the NGPS Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN; http://www.ars-grin.gov/npgs).