About GRIN Descriptor Lists

Accessions within the National Plant Germplasm System are maintained at over
21 working collections throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.  Each
working collection is responsible for the maintenance, distribution
characterization and evaluation of specific species which are well suited to
the site's geographic area.  In order to characterize and evaluate these
collections, descriptor lists were developed which are composed of key traits
used to describe each accession.  These key traits include:  morphological
characteristics, disease and insect resistances, tolerance to environmental
stresses and quality data. Most of these lists have been developed with the
assistance of Crop Advisory Committees (CACs - multi-disciplinary groups of
experts on a particular crop or group of crops) while others were
developed by the working collection staff.  The descriptor lists within
this gopher cover most of the economically important crops within the
United States.  The name, address and phone number of the contact person
for additional information are included at the top of each list.