Plant germplasm information systems

Abstract

The ability of modern information systems to simplify the keeping of extensive, detailed records makes them invaluable for the effective management and use of plant germplasm collections. A feasability study conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, determined that a centralized computer database should be developed to provide and store detailed information on collection, maintenance, distribution, and use of plant germplasm held by the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS). As a result, the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) was created. GRIN, which is accessible to the entire scientific community, serves as a central repository for genetic resources information, provides an incentive for the standardization of crop descriptors and evaluation information, and provides a mechanism by which germplasm curators can manage inventories and distribution records. Taxonomic, passport, characteristic, and evaluation data on available germplasm can be reviewed and retrieved through the use of a menu-driven system. Plant scientists can use these data to determine the existence of germplasm that could be useful in their research programs. Requests for germplasm then can be created and forwarded to the appropriate germplasm maintenance site via GRIN. Although GRIN was designed to meet the specific requirements of the NPGS, portions of it could serve as a prototype for other, similar systems.