794 • Technologies To Maintain Biological Diversity 



or undifferentiated tissue to regenerate into 

 whole plants (41,75,111). 



Re«< 



The technologies associated with recombi- 

 nant DNA allow insertion of specific genetic 

 information into plants to produce altered char- 

 acteristics. Basic principles of the technologies 

 have been discussed in earlier OTA studies 

 (109,111). Current constraints relate largely to 

 inabilities to culture and regenerate isolated 

 cells of most plant species (41,75). 



Genetic engineering techniques may allow 

 scientists to develop, by gene transfer, new agri- 

 cultural varieties (75), but considerable scien- 

 tific development is needed before such tech- 

 nologies can become routine. Further, genetic 

 engineering technologies face legal, social, and 

 political questions in light of warnings that po- 

 tential products might cause health, environ- 

 mental, or economic problems. With continued 

 research, genetic engineering could augment, 

 but not substantially replace, standard breed- 

 ing practices. 



NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES 



In the past 10 years, new technologies for 

 germplasm collection, maintenance, and use 

 have been developed (108). Improved germ- 

 plasm maintenance in the United States will 

 require not only the addition of new technol- 

 ogies, but careful planning for facilities and 

 resources to support them. Determining the ap- 

 propriateness of a particular technology in- 

 volves consideration of the biology of the spe- 

 cies, the reliability of the technology, the effect 

 of the technology on a collection's composition, 

 and costs. This section discusses several areas 

 of offsite maintenance that need attention and 

 the opportunities for doing so. 



Develop a Standard Operating 

 Procedure 



Studies have only recently begun to systemat- 

 ically address problems of records mainte- 

 nance, regeneration procedures, seed-drying 

 techniques, storage, liability testing conditions, 

 or improper management (21,30,31,43). This 

 assessment has highlighted numerous appro- 

 priate procedures. Implementation of these 

 technologies in the United States and interna- 

 tionally could provide a basis for improving 

 maintenance in offsite collections and devel- 

 oping appropriate avenues for training per- 

 sonnel. 



Standard operating procedures for maintain- 

 ing offsite collections of plants could be devel- 



oped that include newly developed technologies 

 and incorporate additional procedures as they 

 are developed. Such procedures could be de- 

 veloped by a task force composed of represent- 

 atives of government, industry, and academia. 

 The task force could specifically consider the 

 use of technologies by the National Plant Germ- 

 plasm System. 



Development of recommendations will not 

 assure improvement of germplasm mainte- 

 nance in existing U.S. collections. Issues such 

 as the need for additional storage space at NSSL 

 and implementation of better viability testing 

 and regeneration protocols must be addressed 

 by increased funds if necessary. A plan to im- 

 prove storage and maintenance in NPGS col- 

 lections should be drawn up, therefore, that 

 would address both the needs for new facilities 

 and support of basic operations. Such a plan 

 could be developed by USDA with or without 

 the suggested task force, or by a separate com- 

 mittee drawn from sectors served by NPGS. 



Storage 



Cryogenic techniques could greatly extend 

 the storage time of seeds and could reduce costs 

 associated with monitoring seed viability and 

 regenerating samples. USDA funding of re- 

 search on the effects of cryogenic storage could 

 increase the number of species that can be 

 maintained and allow investigation of concerns 

 about genetic stability. 



