SeedStor: A Germplasm Information Management System and Public Database.

Area of Science:

• Plant science
• Agriculture
• Conservation biology

Background:

• The Germplasm Resources Unit (GRU) at John Innes Centre curates extensive collections of temperate crops, wild relatives, and genetic stocks.
• These collections are vital for plant conservation and form part of the UK's contribution to international genetic resource agreements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce SeedStor, a publicly accessible database and Germplasm Information Management System.
• To provide researchers, breeders, and educators with a searchable platform for plant germplasm access and utilization.

Main Methods:

• Development of a fully searchable online database (SeedStor) for GRU germplasm.
• Implementation of a user-friendly interface for browsing, querying by phenotype, and ordering accessions.
• Integration of internal management functionalities for request processing, regeneration, and documentation.

Main Results:

• SeedStor provides access to over 35,000 germplasm accessions, including cereals, legumes, Brassica crops, and genetic stocks.
• The system supports complex, criteria-driven searches and allows for data download and germplasm ordering.
• Internally, SeedStor streamlines germplasm management, request tracking, and reporting for GRU staff.

Conclusions:

• SeedStor enhances accessibility and management of valuable plant genetic resources for the scientific community and beyond.
• The integrated system supports both external access and internal operational efficiency for germplasm curation and distribution.