Most of us know that the usda is restricting ordering germplasm more and more over the years due to staffing issues, more demand and probably all other kinds of reasons. It’s unfortunate that it’s been more difficult for us to obtain these resources. I am wondering if we could work with them to do group orders for the network here? We could confine the orders to only apples and pears that are not available commercially or otherwise, varieties that they might find interesting, propagating or worth testing on a larger scale and limit it to only to a certain number of varieties per year. We could get organized about reporting results. This group represents growers all over the country (and world) with all kinds of micro climates, disease pressures and everything else. We even have amateur breeders and others interested in starting breeding programs.
They would only need to provide a few sticks of each variety that we agreed upon, our members could grow them out and distribute to other members here. Eventually distributing to the public.
In the past there have been many collections around the country that have kept many varieties growing but many of them have gone by the wayside like Botner’s collection and I think the HOS is in decline.
Maybe as a group we could sort of cloud source some of these rare varieties?
Just an idea. Wondering what anyone else thinks.
I can’t think of a better way to help the usda solve some of these problems. I’m organized enough and I’m poor at writing so it would definitely need to be a group effort.
@ribs1
I order plant material regularly from NCGR sites and know of others who obtain plant material from them as well. Usually we place our orders through GRIN.
My orders are for leaf samples which are sent directly to a laboratory for analysis, never to my address.
I know of established academic and commercial breeding programs for either rootstock or fruit stock who order propagation material from sites, usually after having it lab tested with others for certain properties.
Well-established plant propagation businesses also obtain propagation material from them – particularly new releases. Ponca blackberry is an example.
I am personally only interested in apples and pears and I think this would be a good place to start since it seems many of the members here also focus on apples and pears. In addition these have been more and more difficult to obtain. Most of us have had to bend the truth about our intentions.
I think that’s a great idea. Hopefully I can stir up enough interest that we could make an appointment as a group, or designate someone other than me to make the appointment. It might not go well for us If I were the appointee. As you may have noticed, I tend to bring trouble with me
Good idea. If Grin is open to a group proposal it seems like we should include several other types that have been developed in other countries where we have no easy way to obtain scions or rootstock. Persimmons come to mind, I see a lot of post for Korean and Ukrainian varieties from various members, also stonefruit for our continent. I have been seeking native plums from outside the US to add to my local natives. P nigra for example is very difficult to obtain. I am sure Grin could obtain it from Canada. I have contacted most of our border members to no avail. I would certainly participate and provide a way to help propagate native varieties of these two groups.
Dennis
Kent Wa
I’m sure those are available on Global-GRIN. I signed up there and actually like how they present information better then old GRIN. But be aware the charges and paperwork complexity involved with that too.
There is also the issue of how a group would manage the germplasm.Who has what. In what quantities. Ensuring best quality. A spreadsheet to track it all. How much we’d charge. Shipping of course. Realizing keeping germplasm is much more labor intensive in some crops more then others.
I think this is a great idea. @DennisD thanks for tagging me.
FWIW, I think I have my fill of apples and pears but I’d be VERY interested in certain Japanese and Korean persimmons. Possibly some Chinese too. I’d happily cooperate in any group effort.
