Training Seed Savers In Plant Characterization and Regeneration
GENEVA, N.Y. The Plant
Genetic Resources Unit (PGRU)
of the USDA-ARS at Geneva,
New York, hosted a two-day
workshop, September 18-19,
2000, for training seed savers in
heirloom plant characterization
and regeneration.
“The major goals of this
workshop were to provide par
ticipants from organic farmer
and seed-saving non
governmental organizations
(NGOs) the skills to describe
varieties using the descriptor
lists available from the National
Plant Germplasm System and
elsewhere and to multiply heir
loom varieties showing potential
in a manner that preserves their
identity and provides sufficient
high quality seed,” said Larry
Robertson, USDA vegetable
crop curator.
“The workshop aimed to
train trainers from the organiza
tions involved so that they could
act as mentors in training other
members of their organizations
in the demonstrated methodolo
gies.”
Seed saver enthusiasts are in
terested in using heirloom varie
ties in the PGRU seed repository
for production on their farms.
Workshop organizers provided
the links and basic knowledge to
access germplasm and charac
terize it. After selecting the
plants they would like to use, the
seed savers have the basic skills
needed to regenerate them in a
manner that preserves their un
iqueness.
Through informed layper
sons, the PGRU hopes to get
more germplasm out of the vault
and into farmer fields, providing
for on-farm conservation of im
portant and useful heirloom
varieties. Heirloom enthusiasts
are expected to play an import
ant role in turning PGRU collec
tions into living plants that all
can experience and enjoy.
“We provided a pool of en
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thusiastic seed savers with the
basic training needed to get
started characterizing and re
generating heirlooms in a
manner that meets minimal
standards,” said Robertson.
Even though the participants
still have much to learn, he said
they made a “good start” in
taking a role in preserving our
common heritage of the genetic
resources treasure maintained in
the genebanks. “We have added
a strong, enthusiastic group to
our pool of stakeholders,” he
said, “and we hope to
strengthen links with them in
future activities.”
Lectures covered general con
cepts of descriptors followed by
hands-on experience at the ex
perimental farm in characteriz
ing cabbage, onion and tomato
accessions. The lectures covered
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the minimal descriptor lists used
for cabbage, onion and tomato
and also gave an introduction to
the various types of descriptors
used, their format, and the im
portance of heritability and en
vironmental interaction in
characterization and evaluation.
Participants were trained to
score for such characters as
onion bulb shape, tomato fruit
shape and other characters. The
minimal descriptor lists for all
three crops were covered, scor
ing demonstrated, and the par
ticipants trained to score.
Imaging of tomato and onion
bulb shapes was demonstrated
and discussed at the Wellington
Farm, in Geneva. The impor
tance of photographic documen
tation was demonstrated.
Participants also learned from a
lecture and demonstration of
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computerizing characterization
data in a format that is easily ex
changeable, plus brief coverage
of the on-line Genetic Resources
Information Network (GRIN)
and how to access it via the In
ternet.
Lectures also covered import
ant issues in small-scale regen
eration of heirlooms including
plant breeding systems, plant
habits, use of pollinators, and
IPM. This was followed by dem
onstrations at the Wellington
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Farm of protocols used in plant
ing varieties for regeneration
using cages for pollination, how
bee hives are used for pollina
tion, and a demonstration of
seed threshing, processing and
cleaning equipment used for
seed production of tomatoes,
Brassica crops and onion. The
day ended with coverage of the
importance of proper drying,
storage, and testing germination
and other seed quality traits.
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