The Margot Forde Forage Germplasm Centre Warren Williams Curator

Purpose-built facility - PN

Purpose 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 receive 4,000 new populations pa dispatch 3,000 seed lots pa replenish populations pa maintain database of 100,000 entries with www access back-up seed samples at -20° C

Associated research Molecular cytogenetics Plant systematics Molecular phylogenetics Germplasm evaluation methods Wide hybridization Genetic analysis Rhizobium collection and rhizobiology

The next two years Negotiate a more appropriate quarantine regime Deal with ERMA and new organisms issues

The next 10 years 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 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