Plant Gene Resources of Canada and the Canadian plant germplasm system

Abstract

Plant Gene Resources of Canada is part of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and has the mandate to acquire, maintain, and characterize plant germplasm and microorganisms for preserving biodiversity and supporting development of economically important crops. About 34 staff members are located at 12 sites across Canada. The Canadian Collection of Fungal Cultures is located in Ottawa, Ontario, and the Virus Collection, in Summerland, British Columbia. Seed-propagated crops are maintained at the Saskatoon Research Centre, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and encompass 113 000 accessions representing 850 plant species. Fruit trees and small fruits are propagated at Harrow, Ontario, while potatoes are maintained in tissue culture at Fredericton, New Brunswick. These latter three locations are responsible for most plant germplasm entering and leaving Canada. Staff members with expertise in breeding, entomology, plant pathology, or other crop-specific research are located at specific research centres (nodes); some of these locations were selected because of high natural levels of certain diseases or specific growing conditions. The production of seed stocks for winter cereals takes place in Lethbridge, Alberta, and in Delhi, Ontario, while screening for resistance takes place in Lacombe, Alberta, for barley scald [Rhynchosporium secalis], in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, for barley net blotch [Pyrenophora teres], in Brandon, Manitoba, for fusarium head blight [Fusarium graminearum] of barley, and in Winnipeg, Manitoba, for crown rust [Puccinia coronata f. sp. avenae] and stem rust [Puccinia graminis f. sp. avenae] of oat. Morphological and agronomical data are usually collected during regeneration of accessions of the gene bank seed stock. Information is publicly available in a searchable database, GRIN-CA (Germplasm Resources Information Network, Canada), and accessions can be ordered online, free of charge, by plant breeders, scientists, and others who can demonstrate a valid use. Molecular characterization of genetic diversity within plant species has most recently been undertaken for oat and flax. Plant pathology research is being conducted to help solve important production problems, such as anthracnose [Colletotrichum truncatum] and ascochyta blight [Ascochyta lentis] on lentil, ascochyta blight on chickpea [A. rabiei], and sclerotinia stem rot [Sclerotinia sclerotiorum] on Brassica napus.