Slideshow presentation of initial work for US CWR strategy for USDA PGOC meeting, June 2011

1. Toward a US National Strategy for the Conservation of
Crop Wild Relatives
Priority Genepools and Taxa

2. Research Process
Inventory of CWR and Utilized Taxa in the US
Taxonomic Prioritization (crop genepool and taxa)
Gap Analysis and Threat Assessment
Conservation Strategies and Recommendations
Collecting and Storage Ex Situ In Situ Establishment and Management

3. National Inventory
Method-
Inclusive of wide range of utilized and potentially useful taxa,
including both native and naturalized taxa occurring in the US
(including Hawaii (Puerto Rico?).
Taxa directly used for food, fiber, forage, medicine, ornamental,
and restoration purposes
CWR taxa

4. Defining Crop Wild Relatives
CWR definition- “a wild plant taxon that has an indirect use
derived from its relatively close genetic relationship to a crop;
this relationship is defined in terms of the CWR belonging to
Gene Pools 1 or 2, or taxon groups 1 to 4 of the crop” (Maxted et
al. 2006)
Adapted method includes Genepool 3- some are useful to
breeding, and also useful for other research purposes
Functionally defined by genus
Some crops have multiple genera contributing to genepool (e.g.
maize, carrot, beet, wheat, banana)

5. National Inventory
Results:
3,000 taxa
work in progress

6. Taxonomic Priorities-
what taxa are likely to be most useful?
Crop definition- “a plant...or plant product…that can be grown and
harvested extensively for profit or subsistence” (Webster’s 2011)
Major crops for food and economy- have modern (improved)
cultivar forms and active breeding programs.
primary focus on the plant species known to, or with the potential
to, contribute to agriculture through crop breeding.
The national strategy is a conservation strategy prioritizing species
based upon their potential use value- to food production and food
security, and to the economy.

7. Top Crops Worldwide, and US Iconics
Method-
Gather data on major crops globally (FAOSTAT, published
literature, ITPGRFA)
Prioritize the list (Priority 1, Priority 2)
Identify genera in genepools of priority crops
Review inventory and add additional genepools to priorities- CWR,
and Iconic Directly Utilized Species
sugar maple (Acer saccharum), wild rice (Zizania spp.), medicinal
species of Echinacea, pine nut species of Pinus, pecan (Carya
illinoinensis, jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) and the alcohol/sugar
taxa of Agave- taxa added (but not CWR)

8. Top Crops Worldwide, and US Iconics
Results:
255 crops/ 281 genera
Priority 1- 108 crops/ 126 genera
Priority 2- 147 crops/ 155 genera.
This list certainly includes all the most important
agricultural crops around the world by a number
of measures, and covers all crops listed in
FAOSTAT for US production and food supply,
with virtually all major US crops on Priority 1.
The list should cover the great majority of the
world’s crops with major breeding programs

9. Proposal for Taxonomic Priorities for the US
Results:
2,489 taxa in 159 Priority genera occur in
the US-
Priority 1- 904 taxa in 74 genera
Priority 2- 1,108 taxa in 85 genera
Need to further prioritize!
Especially species rich native genepools of important crops include Allium (onion),
Cucurbita (squash), Fragaria (strawberry), Helianthus (sunflower), Ilex (maté), Ipomoea (sweet
potato), Lactuca (lettuce), Phaseolus (bean), Prunus (cherry, almond, peach), Ribes (currant),
Rubus (raspberry), Saccharum (sugar cane), Trifolium (clover), Vaccinium (blueberry,
cranberry), and Vitis (grape)

10. Proposal for Taxonomic Priorities for the US
Focus on Priority 1 crop genepools (with edits by you!)
Closely related taxa (GP1/2), and more distant taxa that are known to be utilized in crop
breeding, will be subjected to the full gap analysis for identification of collecting
priorities, and for in situ conservation considerations.
Distantly related taxa (GP3) - a superficial gap analysis will identify taxa not conserved
ex situ by at least a few populations, and prioritize these for additional collecting.
Generally no in situ analysis for Genepool 3 taxa.
Include listed threatened and rare species in Priority 1 genepools (incl GP3) in strategy
Identify the non-native taxa of particular interest with your guidance (generally GP1/
GP2), and include identified taxa in the ex situ gap analysis.
This method certainly covers the richest genepools of native diversity occurring in the
US that have the potential to contribute to crop improvement, and attempts to cover the
major iconic wild species directly utilized for food/medicine as well.

11. Critical Input by YOU
Examine Priority 1, de-prioritize crops/genera that are minor crops or that lack breeding
programs. Some potentials: Ilex (21 taxa), Lathyrus (31 taxa), Linum (21 taxa), Papaver (14
taxa), Trifolium (96 taxa), and Vicia (as fava bean has no close relatives; 14 taxa).
Examine Priority 2 crops/genera, and suggest any crop genepools worthy of re-
prioritization at Priority 1. Some potential suggestions: Humulus, Physalis, Castanea,
Mentha, or Nicotiana.
Examine national inventory and identify taxa of high direct use value, or within crop
genepools of importance not already listed. Forages, ornamentals, medicinals, oil and
industrial crops knowledge gap.
Once Priority crops are more clearly established, input on which taxa within each
genepool that are in GP3 or are naturalized in the US are useful and should be included
in gap analysis.
Sharing of occurrence records that you curate for all priority taxa with the project
Input on the results of the gap analysis