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Taxonomic Information on Cultivated Plants in GRIN-Global




Economic Importance

Currently, 39,306 economic importance records exist in GRIN-Global for the 19,127 taxa for which economic plant data are provided. GRIN-Global economic data are classified to two levels adapted from the Economic Botany Data Collection Standard (Cook, 1995). In total, 16 classes are recognized, including 13 from this Standard: food, food additives, animal food, bee plants, invertebrate food, materials, fuels, social uses, vertebrate poisons, non-vertebrate poisons, medicines, environmental uses, and gene sources, with the addition of classes for weeds, harmful organism hosts, and CITES-regulated plants. Note that two of these added categories plus vertebrate poisons do not represent beneficial uses but are mostly negative in their economic impact. The 16 classes are further subdivided into 113 subclasses. Data on gene sources, considered of minor importance in Cook's reference, will be linked to crop wild relative data by 2019 and will no longer appear with other economic importance data. Sources of economic data are referenced in GRIN-Global. A thorough discussion of GRIN-Global economic data can be found in World Economic Plants: A Standard Reference.



NGP National GeneBank of Pakistan Distribution Policy

Plant germplasm is distributed to scientists, educators, producers and other bona fide research and education entities from Pakistan’s National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) active collection sites. The NPGS Curator and/or Research Leader will, in accordance with current NPGS policies and procedures, determine the legitimacy of a request when necessary..

Distributions to fulfill requests for repatriation of subsamples of germplasm collections to a country or community of origin, especially following natural or man-made catastrophes, are considered a high priority.

Although distributions for research, education, and repatriation are of the highest priority, the NPGS also encourages various seed-saver organizations and public gardens to conduct germplasm conservation activities that engage many individuals and groups throughout the country. Elements of the NPGS cooperate with seed-saver organizations and public gardens and may store germplasm for and distribute germplasm to such organizations.

Distribution of germplasm from NPGS collections to fulfill requests from individuals seeking free germplasm strictly for home use is generally considered an inappropriate use of limited resources and conflicts with Pakistan Government policy of not competing with commercial enterprises. Requestors can be asked, in an appropriate manner, to justify the use of specific NPGS germplasm instead of suitable commercially available germplasm.

Accessions listed in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) database as “not available” due to insufficient or low viability seed and/or scheduled for regeneration will generally not be available for distribution.

Other accessions are listed in GRIN as “not available” because they are not a part of the NPGS collection per se, but are conserved in NPGS genebanks to meet specific needs as described later in the section entitled “Categories of Germplasm Distributed and Availability.” In this category are certain accessions of improved germplasm that are only available from the owner/developer. Other accessions require that specific conditions be met by the requestor before distribution is possible.

NPGS sites will not distribute germplasm internationally when they cannot comply with the importation or quarantine requirements of the recipient country unless the requestor can provide a valid waiver of such requirements.