27th Annual Student Research Conference
The Use of Open Source GIS Software to Document Biotic and Abiotic Environmental Factors Affecting Nepalese Germplasm Collected by the USDA National Plant Germplasm System
Sara E. Chappell
Dr. Mark Campbell, Faculty Mentor
The plant breeding program at Truman has collaborated with the USDA National Plant Germplasm System to use diverse collections of indigenous landraces (heirloom) of crops. Management of genetic resources requires facilities for storage, infrastructure for regenerating seed to insure viability, and dissemination of genetic materials for breeders throughout the world. Many developing countries lack the infrastructure and technology to properly log their germplasm collections. Nations such as Nepal, where the geography, biotic, and abiotic factors are extremely diverse, cannot afford these technologies. Here we present a method in which the current Nepalese maize collection is documented and presented with several different environmental factors using free-use GIS software to aid breeders in keeping track of large germplasm stores. Knowledge of biotic and abiotic stresses that these accessions adapted to over the past 400 years will help breeders match germplasm with target areas of plant improvement which may share similar environmental limitations.
Keywords: GIS software, Nepal maize, corn, corn diversity, maize diversity, Quantum GIS, germplasm documentation
Topic(s):Agricultural Science
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 2-5
Location: GEO - SUB
Time: 3:30