Acquisition of New Germplasm
We attempt to keep abreast of technological developments, the changing needs of researchers, and discoveries of new
germplasm sources, by acquiring new accessions from various sources. In recent years our collection has grown by approx.
100 items per year.
Maintenance, Regeneration and Evaluation of Stocks
Seed samples of all accessions are stored in a local seed vault for immediate use, with samples also
 deposited in the
National
Seed Storage Laboratory at Fort Collins, Colorado, for long term storage and backup.
Germination tests are performed regularly to determine which stocks require regeneration (a threshold of
80% germination is used). All plants are observed during regeneration for key visual features; in some instances, the wild
species accessions are also assayed for genetic diversity, mating system, or other traits.
Distribution of Seed Samples
Seed samples are distributed gratis to breeders and other bona-fide researchers
worldwide. Each year, we receive over 200 requests, in response to which
we send out over 3,000 individual seed samples representing
approximately 1,500 unique accessions.
Reports of Utilization
TGRC seed samples are used for a wide variety of research
projects, from the most fundamental to the strictly applied. Each year our survey of the literature turns up over 100
published reports in which our stocks are cited. A major area of activity is the use of wild germplasm for disease resistance,
with new useful resistances being reported each year. Other traits of economic interest include insect resistance, abiotic
stress (drought, heat, cold, salinity) tolerance, and improved horticultural and fruit characteristics. Topics of a more
fundamental nature include a wide variety studies in physiology and development (e.g. fruit development, self-incompatibility,
carbohydrate metabolism), genetics (e.g. linkage mapping, quantitative trait loci, wide hybridization, and cytology), and
molecular genetics (e.g. many transgenic experiments, transposable elements, map-based cloning).
Documentation and Database Efforts
We maintain a computer database with includes passport information on all accessions, with detailed collection notes for
wild species, a list of the known mutants of tomato, records of seed requests, and a growing library of digital images of tomato
stocks. Lists of available stocks are available at our website http://tgrc.ucdavis.edu
(under Database). For further information please email us at tgrc@vegmail.ucdavis.edu.
Research Projects
The TGRC continues to be an "active" collection, with ongoing
research projects in several areas. For example, we are currently using molecular marker techniques to identify
chromosome segments of two previously inaccessible Solanum species introgressed into a tomato background.
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