(406) A Comprehensive Echinacea Germplasm Collection Located at the North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station, Ames, Iowa

Abstract

Echinacea is becoming a well-established, high-value crop, both as an ornamental and a dietary supplement. A comprehensive collection of Echinacea germplasm is conserved by the USDA-ARS North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station (NCRPIS) in Ames, Iowa, and is available via seed distribution for research and educational purposes (ars-grin.gov/npgs). Representing all nine species collected throughout their respective North American geographic ranges, the Echinacea collection includes 179 accessions. Extensive morphological characterization data associated with this collection have been compiled and are available to researchers on the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) database to aid in selection criteria. The collection has been used extensively for various research projects, ranging from ornamental breeding studies to HPLC analyses of metabolites of interest to the phytopharmaceutical industry. This poster will summarize the Echinacea collection conserved at the NCRPIS, including a list of available accessions by species, illustrations of seed, and control-pollinated cage propagation methods; and facilities utilized for seed cleaning, testing, and storage. In addition, instructions on how to use the GRIN database to view evaluation data and acquire germplasm will be provided.