This page provides information on basic plant genetics, plant breeding programs, plant germplasm repositories and conservation, and plant bioinformatics.
Biotechnology, Genetics and Breeding
| Spotlights |
AgBioForum - The Journal of Agrobiotechnology, Management & Economics
Illinois Missouri Biotechnology Alliance.
Publishes short, nontechnical articles reporting on current research that focuses on the interactions of agrobiotechnology with economics and with sociopolitical processes.
Crop Biotechnology and the Future of Food: A Scientific Assessment (PDF | 86Kb)
Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST).
Link to commentary paper by CAST scientists from October 2005 which covers issues and perspectives on the development and use of genetically engineered crops and genetic manipulation technologies for crop production.
Adoption of Genetically Engineered Crops in the U.S.
USDA. Economic Research Service.
Summarizes the extent of adoption (2000-2011) of genetically engineered herbicide tolerant soybeans and cotton and insect-resistant cotton and corn by State.
Agricultural Research Service National Program - Genetics
USDA. Agricultural Research Service.
Provides access to USDA's Agricultural Research Service's Program on Plant, Microbial and Insect Genetic Research, Genomics and Genetic Improvement.
Bioversity International
Bioversity International.
From the world's largest international research organization dedicated to the conservation and use of biodiversity, allows browsing for information on plants and animals, biodiversity themes, and regions.
Cooperative Federal-State Maize Breeding Project
USDA; Iowa State University.
Provides information on the cooperative USDA-ARS and Iowa State University corn breeding project located in Ames, Iowa.
Germplasm Resources Information Network
USDA. Agricultural Research Service.
Provides nomenclature, classification, distribution, references, and economic impacts for over 40,000 accessions of USDA's National Plant Germplasm System.
Information Systems for Biotechnology
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Provides documents and searchable databases pertaining to the development, testing, and regulatory review of genetically modified plants, animals, and microorganisms within the U.S. and abroad.
International Cultivar Registration Authorities (ICRAs)
International Society for Horticultural Science.
Provides information on how to register a new cultivar, links to the official Codes of nomenclature and other links of interest to plant breeders.
Milho, makka, and yu mai: early journeys of Zea mays to Asia
USDA. National Agricultural Library.
Begins with the discovery of maize in Mesoamerica by Columbus in 1492. Follows the journey of maize eastward, as milho, makka, and yu mai, to Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics
USDA. National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Highlights plant genetics initiatives, projects, and funding plrograms of NIFA.
Henry G. Gilbert Nursery and Seed Trade Catalog Collection
USDA. NAL. Special Collections.
Samples from nursery and seed trade catalogs published since the late 18th century.
Plant Variety Protection Act and Regulations and Rules of Practice
USDA. Agricultural Marketing Service.
Full text of the Plant Variety Protection Act which includes the scope of plant breeders' rights, certificates of protection and the responsibilities and authority of the Plant Variety Protection Office.
Recent Advances in Wheat Head Scab Research in China
USDA. Agricultural Research Service.
Provides information on wheat head scab epidemiology, etiology, disease control and advances in breeding for resistance in China.
Strawberry Improvement: Past and Future
USDA. National Agricultural Library.
Published in 1966 by world renowned George M. Darrow, this rare book covers the world history of strawberry breeding. Full text, images, bibliographies and additional strawberry links are provided by National Agricultural Library.
TreeBASE
State University of New York. University at Buffalo.
Provides access to a relational database of phylogenetic information, stores phylogenetic trees and the data matrices, and includes bibliographic information on phylogenetic studies.
USDA Crop Germplasm Research Unit
USDA ARS. Crop Germplasm Research Unit.
Presents research summaries and publications lists from this lab's scientists. Work focuses on warm-season grasses, cotton, sorghum, pecans, and hickories.