TAXONOMIC INFORMATION ON CULTIVATED PLANTS IN THE USDA/ARS GERMPLASM RESOURCES INFORMATION NETWORK (GRIN)

The National Plant Germplasm System of the Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture maintains a computer database, the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), for the management of and as a source of information on its 450 000 germplasm accessions. The taxonomic portion of GRIN provides the classification and nomenclature for these genetic resources and many other economic plants on a world-wide basis. Included in GRIN taxonomy are scientific names for 18 000 genera (14 000 accepted) and 48 000 species or infraspecific ranks (32 000 accepted) with common names, distributions, and taxonomic references. Generally recognized standards for abbreviating author's names and botanical literature have been adopted in GRIN. The scientific names are verified, in accordance with the international rules of botanical nomenclature, by taxonomists of the Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory using available taxonomic literature and consultations with taxonomic specialists. Included in GRIN taxonomy are federal- and state-regulated noxious weeds and federally and internationally listed threatened and endangered plants. Major renovations to GRIN hardware and software will be completed during 1994 and provide significant improvement, particularly facilitating access to GRIN data over the Internet.