December 5, 2005

National Plant Germplasm SystemCurator’s Workshop

Chicago, Illinois

Karen A. WilliamsNational Germplasm Resources Lab

Beltsville, Maryland

Germplasm Acquisition Issues

• Plant Exploration/Exchange Program

• Proposal preparation and review

• Conducting explorations

• International issues of germplasm collection

• Domestic exploration

• Germplasm Exchange (ex situ)

• Plant Exchange Office facilitation of

germplasm exchange and research

Contents

History of USDA ExplorationsHistory of USDA Explorations

• 605 explorations since 1898• every year since 1898, except 1942 – 1945• 131 domestic, 474 foreign trips• the establishment of regional plant introduction

stations in the late 1940s and early 1950s provided for secure maintenance of introduced germplasm

P.H. Dorsett, China, 1924

The NPGS Plant Exploration/Exchange Program

Purpose: To fill gaps in the NPGS collections

Administration: Plant Exchange Office (PEO), National Germplasm Resources Lab

Funding: $140,000 annually

Plant exploration: field collection of samples of landraces and wild species not already conserved in genebanks

Plant exchange: visits to foreign germplasm collections to assess collections and arrange for exchange

Exploration vs. Exchange

NPGS Plant Explorations1996 - 2005

Number of explorations 113 Number of countries 40 Number of CGCs represented 31

NPGS Plant Explorations

• Gap filling (taxa, environments, Gap filling (taxa, environments, traits)traits)

• Provide 20 % of germplasm Provide 20 % of germplasm acquisitions by the NPGSacquisitions by the NPGS

• Most explorations target wild Most explorations target wild germplasmgermplasm

Helianthus californicusCalifornia 2002

Proposals

• accepted yearly

• prepared according to proposal guidelines

prepared by PEO

• separate guidelines for exploration and

exchange proposals

• pre-proposals for foreign explorations

requested in April

• deadline for 2007 proposals is July 7, 2006

• email submission encouraged

Resources for Proposal Preparation

• GRIN accession and taxonomy data

• Plant exploration reports

• SINGER and other genebank databases

• CGC reports

• floras, monographs, etc.

• in – country cooperators

• FAO Country Reports

• PEO queries on GRIN Site Users’ page

Variations on Plans for Foreign Collecting

• Traditional (2 US scientists, 1 or more

host

country scientists)

• Host country scientists only,

germplasm shipped

• CG or other scientists in cooperation

with host country scientists

• Traditional followed by additional

collecting

by host country scientists

Endorsements for ProposalsEndorsements for Proposals

• Crop curator (s)

• Crop Germplasm Committee(s)-- when no CGC exists for the crop, other

experts may provide endorsement

Wild potato explorationEcuador 1995

Criteria for Evaluation of Proposals

• Need for collection

• Host country collaboration (foreign)

• Likelihood of success

• Adequacy of plan for post-exploration

handling of germplasm

• Realistic budget

• Qualifications of explorers

Review and Fundingof Proposals

• proposals reviewed by PEO and a committee

composed of NPGS scientists and

Regional Technical Committee Reps• recommendations on funding made by PEO

to the ARS National Program Staff• notifications of awards usually made in December

Out-of-cycle Funding

• funding sometimes becomes availablemid – year

• explorations for domestic exploration arelower budget and can often beaccommodated

• foreign explorations can sometimes be supported

• full proposals and endorsements required

The Curator’s Role in the Plant Exploration/Exchange Program

• identification of collection needs• communication of needs to CGC and PEO• development of proposals• input into proposals prepared by others• feedback to PEO on explorations

Conducting the explorationConducting the exploration

• timing• length• wild vs. cultivated• collecting strategies• NPGS Code of Conduct• good cooperation with host is key • lays the groundwork for future collaboration

Apple exploration, Kazakhstan 1993

Documentation of Collections

• passport data (individualized for each exploration)• latitudes/longitudes (plus datum) using GPS receiver

• altitude (with altimeter)

• other required fields

• unique collector identification

numbers (Ex: PAR05-1 for 2005

Paraguay exploration)

• herbarium voucher specimens

• reports

Invasive Species Considerations

• Balance between conservation of entire genepools and invasivespecies control

• collectors should exercise caution on taxathat appear weedy, communicate concernsto curator

• Federal noxious weed list (permits required)• State noxious weed lists • Does the NPGS need a code of conduct?

• PEO Instructions for Plant Collectors

• Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Protocol

(most germplasm goes to Beltsville for inspection)

• Obtain original phytosanitary certificate from donor country

(required by APHIS)

• Clean, package, and label all collections carefully

Importation of germplasm

• 37-2100 phytosanitary certificate necessary

• 63001 (no phytosanitary certificate, limited to

50 accessions, <50 seeds/accession, emergency use only with approval of PEO)

Permits for importing admissible germplasm

• Departmental Permit for Prohibited materials

• Post-entry – materials that must be inspected

by State/APHIS during growing season

• Noxious weeds – plants on the Federal Noxious Weeds list

APHIS Permits for importing germplasmrequiring special handling

• Multiple permits required:

-- export permit from the country of origin

-- import permit from the FWS

-- import permit from APHIS for CITES- regulated plants

• Information:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/pubs/fsheet_faq_notice/fs_phcites.html

CITES – protected plants

• cooperation with APHIS Plant Germplasm

Quarantine Program

(Joe Foster, joseph.a.foster@aphis.usda.gov)• Plant Health Program undergoing reorganization• vacant positions (Prunus, Malus, etc.)• quota system continues• some unexpected importations will be accepted

Germplasm Requiring Quarantine(Beltsville)

Plant Exploration Tracking System (PETS)

• part of the GRIN database• documents germplasm collected on explorations • basic passport data (collector id, taxon, country,

latitude,longitude)• tracks when accession data is added by the sites• allows production of reports on accessions from plant

exploration

International Issues Access to Plant Genetic Resources

Ukraine 1999

Before 1993 – Free and Open Access to Plant Genetic Resources

Fruits and nutsPakistan 1987

Peanut landracesEcuador 1995

Since 1993 – Increasing restrictions on Since 1993 – Increasing restrictions on Access to Plant Genetic ResourcesAccess to Plant Genetic Resources

• national access to genetic resources is closely controlled in many countries

• access not possible at all in some countries

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

• access must be associated with agreement on the sharing of benefits

• national governments control access to genetic resources (“prior informed consent”)

*See CBD website: www.biodiv.org

Access for International Plant Explorations

• Access is based on “prior informed consent” of the host country national government

• Obtained in all countries that are parties to the CBD – even those without national legislation (from the CBD focal point or their designee)*

• Includes agreement on sharing of monetary and non-monetary benefits

Obtaining Access for NPGSForeign Plant Explorations

• PEO obtains permission for most foreign explorations

• Permission often must be negotiated

• Multi-year permissions can sometimes beincluded in general agreements

• Delays in explorations are possible

Access to Plant Genetic Resources for NPGS Plant Explorations

1993 - 2005

Traditional Host Country Benefits Associated with NPGS Plant Explorations

• sharing collected germplasm• paying exploration expenses• strengthening of professional ties• transfer of information and

technology• collaboration in publication of

research resultsKazakhstan, 2000

Additional Benefit Sharing Associated with NPGS Plant

Explorations

• non-monetary “in-kind” benefits• increases the capacity of host country

to conserve PGR• determined in close consultation with

host country partners

Examples of Additional Benefit Sharing Associated

with NPGS Plant ExplorationsCotton in Mexico Support for wild cotton

nursery

Daucus spp. in Turkey Characterization of collected germplasm

Phaseolus in Honduras Training in bean breeding/pathology

Wild tomato in Chile

Training at UC-Davis Research support

Arachis and Capsicum In Paraguay

Characterization, training in GIS

Peanut characterizationParaguay 2003

Update onGermplasm Collecting in China

The last NPGS exploration in China was in 2000

2003 Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) Decree No. 30 : MOA controls germplasm collection by foreigners

2005 Application to MOA for a grass exploration rejected

2005 Annex to a USDA agreement on Cooperation in Agricultural Science and Technology with the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST)

Germplasm Collecting in the United StatesRegulatory Considerations

• not directly related to CBD issues• no national authority on access

• Legally protected speciesspecific permission to collect required

• Property rightspermission of property owner or managing agency required

• State rules apply

Germplasm Collecting in The United StatesLegally Protected Species

• Federally listed Endangered and threatened species Permits issued by the US Fish & Wildlife Service http://www.fws.gov/endangered/permits/ (permits require 60 days)

• State listed Endangered, threatened, commercially exploited, etc.

Plant Collecting in The United StatesProperty Rights Issues (Landowners)

Federal government USDA Forest Service (National Forests)National Park ServiceBureau of Land ManagementNational Wildlife RefugesUS Military Bases

State governmentState parksState forestsEtc.

Tribal governments

Transportation Corridor Right of Ways

Private (individuals, Nature Conservancy, etc.)

Plant Collecting in The United StatesResources for permit information

• U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service http://www.fws.gov/endangered/permits/index.html

• State Agencies (Departments of Natural Resources, Agriculture, etc.)http://www.fws.gov/offices/statelinks.html

• Natural Heritage Programs and CDCs (Nature Serve Network)http://www.natureserve.org/visitLocal/memberprogramaddress1203.pdf

Germplasm Exchange

• increasing restrictions resulting from the CBD

• NPGS adheres to the principle of free exchange

-- no one can claim ownership over NPGS material

“in the form received”

-- germplasm can be distributed to third parties

-- no restrictions on use

-- can be commercialized

-- further permission from original donor not required

for any purpose

Material Transfer AgreementsProblem terms

• limitations on use

• limitations on distribution to third parties

• limitations on commercialization

• requirement to notify donor of distributions

Material Transfer AgreementsProposed Review Protocol*

• curators receive MTAs • send to Technology Transfer Coordinators (TTCs)

for review• questions first referred to the Plant Exchange Office• unresolved questions referred to the National

Program Leader•TTC negotiates changes with donor, when necessary• Research Leader and TTC sign

* protocol needs approval by the ARS Administrator

FAO International Treatyon Plant Genetic Resources

for Food and Agriculture

• Objectives are conservation, sustainable use, and fair and equitable sharing of benefits

• Multilateral system for access to ex situ germplasm collections and benefit sharing

• Adopted by FAO in Nov 2001• Became international law June 29, 2004

Possible Future Legal FrameworkFor Access to some PGR

FAO International Treatyon Plant Genetic Resources

for Food and Agriculture

• Covers 35 food crops (not peanut, soybean, others)

• Covers some forage legumes and grasses

• Access will be covered by a standard MTA (under negotiation)

• Uncertainty whether U.S. will ratify

http://www.fao.org/ag/cgrfa/itpgr.htm

The Plant Exchange OfficeFacilitating Collaboration

International exploration identifying cooperators

establishing cooperative projectsleveraging other sources of funds

Domestic activities (exploration and in situ conservation)

Park ServiceForest Service

Links to other germplasm collectionsAssociate Collections (policy approved

by PGOC, needs NPS approval)

PEO CollaborationsAssociated with Plant Explorations

• ICARDA/Central Asia and Caucasus• Georgia• Paraguay• U.S. Food Aid Programs in collaboration

with USDA/FAS – Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Ecuador, Sri Lanka

• Office of International Research Programs(Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco, Palestine,

Israel)

Bangladesh 2002

Geographical Information Systems (GIS)Support for plant exploration

• GIS tools have potential to assist explorers • wild species difficult to locate, distributions

not well known

• time in the field and funds are limited

• suitable habitats diminishing

Floramap Climatic Prediction of Distribution

Suitable Habitat: Forest Margins

Accessible areas

GIS Layers to Support Collection of Capsicum flexuosum In Paraguay

Final Priority Areas for CollectingCapsicum flexuosum in Paraguay

Results: Five new populations found, one outside thepreviously know range. Reference: Jarvis et al. 2005. GRACE 52: 671 – 682

Future plans for research on use of GIS to guide plant explorations

• USDA - FAS grant in cooperation with IPGRIexploration for 3 species in Paraguay

• PEO/IPGRI project in Guatemala Capsicum lanceolatum

Plant Exchange OfficeOther Research Projects

• Guidelines for sampling genetic diversity (cooperation with NCGRP)

• Crop wild relative inventories (Bolivia, Guatemala, Paraguay)

Curator’s Resource Documents

• 2007 Plant exploration proposal guidelines

• 2007 Plant exchange proposal guidelines

• 2005 ASHS article on the Plant Exploration Program

• Summary of NPGS explorations over the past 10 years

• Instructions for plant explorers on importing germplasm

• Basic Import/Export Information for NPGS Curators

• Import Permit No. 37-2100

• Information sheet on review of Material Transfer Agreements

Thank you!