2018 ASHS Annual Conference

There is an urgent need to develop foundational training for Plant Genetic Resources Management at a national level. A workshop was convened in April 2018 to identify the necessary scientific backgrounds, practical genebank management skills, and potential training/education formats to address this need. Workshop participants included representatives from the USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS), USDA/NIFA, land-grant universities, industry, international genebanking programs, and a botanic garden. They represented NPGS curation and management teams as well as those who utilize genebank materials in their research and breeding programs. Together, these participants identified a combination of potential mechanisms for graduate students, genebank staff, as well as members of the international community, to be trained in core aspects of plant genebanking. The workshop identified a plan for developing and delivering a Plant Genetic Resource Management training/educational program in the near future. This presentation summarizes the outcomes of the workshop and seeks feedback from the horticulture community about the proposed training/educational program.