From out of old fields comes all this new corn:

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Germplasm
...is both the genetic material (genes, groups
of genes, chromosomes) that controls heredity
and the tissues, organs, and organisms which
express variation Contained in that genetic
material
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Why are genetic resources important ?

• Introduction of new plants
• Food, fiber, medicinal or ornamental
• Changing diets introduction of the potato
• Modification
• Plants collected in wild often have limited value
  per se
• We want adaptation to new environments
• Changes in size, color number of different
  tissues
• We want those changes to have a genetic basis
  (heritable)
• Germplasm is the raw material for diversity which
  is the basis for selection (plant breeding)

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Diversity in Brassica
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• Hundreds of different species
• Six (6) species are cultivated
• The two most common are
• B. oleracea
• B. rapa

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Centers of Diversity
Brassica
oleracea
rapa
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Cabbage - var. capitata - Domesticated from
Kale (non-heading) - Cultivated for medicinal
purposes - hard headed types developed about 800
AD - Red cabbage described in 1570 in England
Cauliflower - var. botrytis - Evolved from
broccoli - 6th century B.C. Broccoli - var.
italica - Domesticated from wild cabbage - Grown
by Greeks and Romans, introduced into England
16th century , later introduced into U.S.
in early 19th century.
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The part of the plant of greatest interest to man
is the part that is modified the most. - J.R.
Harlan
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Brassica oleraceaselection results in six
different vegetables
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Kale Leaves
Cabbage Terminal bud
Cauliflower inflorescence
Brussels sprouts Lateral buds
Broccoli Flowers and stems
Kohrabi Stem
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Six vegetables
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Cabbage
Kale
Brussel sprouts
Broccoli
Kohlrabi
Cauliflower
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cabbages
For fresh market as savoy type is hard to clean
Savoy
Red
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Broccoli
Produced in winter in Salinas Valley of
California Production and consumption has
tripled since 1970 The tissue we consume is the
young inflorescence and flowering buds.
The flower primordia are united into
clusters Buds are functional flowers
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Cauliflower
Consists of a dense mass of branched
floral structures The edible portion is a
thickened fleshy inflorescence As the
inflorescence ages, there is rapid
elongation. To produce functional flowers
axillary buds are formed
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B. rapacommon members
Turnip
Bok-choy
napa
Rab
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Pak ChoyB. rapa var. chinense
White fleshy petioles minimal vernalization
required for bolting less temperature
sensitive than Chinese cabbage, thus, wider
adaptation
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Chinese cabbageB. rapa var. pekinensis
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Non-heading Chinese cabbageB. rapa var.
pekinensis
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Fast Plant
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• Dr. Paul Williams - UW r.
• Brassica rapa
• Flowers in 16 days
• Harvest seed in 35 days
• Plants are 10-12 cm tall
• Can be planted in a
• plastic soda pop bottle

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GERMPLASM

• tissues, organs, seeds, genes, groups of genes
• any material that carries hereditary
  information

The world's food supply is based on intensive
agriculture, which relies on genetic uniformity.
But this uniformity increases crop vulnerability
to pests and stresses.
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Scientists need access to genetic diversity to
breed varieties that can resist pests, diseases,
and environmental stresses.

• The National Plant Germplasm Service (NPGS) aids
  the scientists and the need for genetic diversity
  by
• acquiring crop germplasm
• preserving crop germplasm
• evaluating crop germplasm
• documenting crop germplasm
• distributing crop germplasm

NPGS is a cooperative effort by public (State and
Federal) and private organizations to preserve
the genetic diversity of plants.
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Many important crop species originate outside the
United States
New germplasm (accessions) enter NPGS through
collection, donation by foreign cooperators or
international germplasm collections. The
germplasm is evaluated, maintained, and made
available for distribution.
You can order germplasm ! (usually free)
http//www.ars-grin.gov/index.html
Go to Summary statistics
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The Controversy
Who owns the germplasm?
Who should benefit from research to improve a
plant species by breeding and/or genetic
engineering?