Transcript The Margot Forde Forage Germplasm Centre

The Margot Forde Forage
Germplasm Centre
Warren Williams
Curator
Purpose-built facility - PN
Purpose
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NZ productive economy heavily
depends on introduced plant spp.
Access to international germplasm is
restricted by international
conventions and quarantine.
Genebank stores seeds of 100,000
populations of 2,000 species as a
strategic resource.
Cool – dry seed storage
Operations
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receive 4,000 new populations pa
dispatch 3,000 seed lots pa
replenish 150-200 populations pa
maintain database of 100,000
entries with www access
back-up seed samples at -20° C
Associated research
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Molecular cytogenetics
Plant systematics
Molecular phylogenetics
Germplasm evaluation methods
Wide hybridization
Genetic analysis
Rhizobium collection and
rhizobiology
The next two years
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Negotiate a more appropriate
quarantine regime
Deal with ERMA and new organisms
issues
The next 10 years
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Rationalise actual size of collection
to match sustainable size.
Use molecular techniques to
optimise genetic distance profiles.
Develop strategies for finding genes
and gene complexes (rather than
traits) in germplasm populations.
The team
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Gerald Lockett – Manager
Zane Webber – seed replenishment
Michelle Williamson 30% - markers
Warren Williams 30% - Curator
Helal Ansari 30% - cytogenetics
J. Ford 25% - glasshouses
FRST funding - $444 + GST