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A core collection is a limited set of accessions representing, with a minimum of repetitiveness, the genetic diversity of a crop species and its wild relatives (Frankel 1984).

We modify the concept, and have developed the Core Collections for research. The each collection is set for diversity research, and consists of the minimum number of accessions retained genetic diversity of whole accessions maintained at the NARO Genebank (former NIAS Genebank), respectively. The collections are suitable for breeding, allele screening, linkage disequilibrium, crop evolution, etc.

Now Available

• World Rice Core Collection
  The Collection consists of 69 accessions. It retained 90% of RFLP alleles detected in about 300 accessions selected based on the passport data from the whole rice collection (about 30 thousands accessions) maintained at the NIAS Genebank.
  Reference: Kojima Y et al. (2005) Development of an RFLP-based Rice Diversity Research Set of Germplasm. Breeding Science 55: 431–440.
  Reference: Tanaka N et al. (2020) Whole-genome sequencing of the NARO World Rice Core Collection (WRC) as the basis for diversity and association studies. Plant and Cell Physiology 61: 922–932.
• Rice Core Collection of Japanese Landraces
  The Collection consists of 50 accessions. It retained 95% of SSR alleles detected in about 240 accessions selected based on the passport data from the whole Japanese landrace collections (about two thousands accessions) maintained at the NIAS Genebank.
  Reference: Ebana K. et al. (2008) Development of mini core collection of Japanese rice landrace. Breeding Science 58: 281–291.
  Reference: Tanaka N et al. (2020) Investigation of the Genetic Diversity of a Rice Core Collection of Japanese Landraces using Whole-Genome Sequencing. Plant and Cell Physiology 61: 2087–2096.
• Maize Core Collection of Japanese Landraces (Only 5 left in stock as of Aug 8, 2023)
  The Collection consists of 17 Hokkaido and 69 other accessions (86 accessions in total). They were respectively selected based on AFLP polymorphism from 300 and 1000 accessions maintained at the NIAS Genebank.
• Japanese Azuki bean Core Collection (Only 5 left in stock as of Jun 6, 2022)
  The Collection consists of 80 cultivated and 38 wild azuki bean collected in Japan. They were selected based on DNA (SSR polymorphism) analysis from Japanese azuki bean collection maintained at the NIAS Genebank.
  Reference: Xu HX et al. (2008) Genetic diversity of the azuki bean (Vigna angularis (Willd.) Ohwi & Ohashi) gene pool as assessed by SSR markers. Genome 51: 728–738.
  • JVaC-19 is currently not included in the distribution.
• Japanese Wheat Core Collection
  The Collection consists of 96 accessions. 95 accessions were selected based on the passport data from Japanese landrace and modern cultivars maintained at NIAS Genebank / NICS. Most of the cultivars were selected in consideration of the released year. “Chinese Spring” is included as a genetic standard variety.
  Reference: KOJIMA H et al. (2017) Development and Evaluation of the Core Collection of Japanese Wheat Varieties. Bull. NARO, Crop Sci. 1: 1–13. [in Japanese with English abstract]
  
  • We cannot distribute JWC82, JWC83, JWC87 abroad.
• Japanese Soybean Core Collection (We have 17 left in stock as of Sep 27, 2023)
  The Collection consists of 96 accessions. They were selected based on agro-morphological and SNP genotype variations from whole Japanese soybean collection (about 6,000 accessions) maintained at the NIAS Genebank.
  Reference: Kaga A et al. (2012) Evaluation of soybean germplasm conserved in NIAS genebank and development of mini core collections. Breeding Science 61: 566–592.
• World Soybean Core Collection (We have 33 left in stock as of Aug 18, 2023)
  The Collection consists of 96 accessions. They were selected based on agro-morphological and SNP genotype variations from whole global soybean collection (about 4,000 accessions) maintained at the NIAS Genebank.
  Reference: Kaga A et al. (2012) Evaluation of soybean germplasm conserved in NIAS genebank and development of mini core collections. Breeding Science 61: 566–592.
• World Mungbean Core Collection (We have 12 left in stock as of May 19, 2022)
  The Collection consists of 96 accessions. They were selected based on DNA (SSR polymorphism) analysis and phenotypic data from mungbean collection maintained at the NARO Genebank.
  Reference: Sangiri C et al. (2007) Genetic diversity of the mungbean (Vigna radiata, Leguminosae) genepool on the basis of microsatellite analysis. Australian Journal of Botany 55(8):837–847.
• World Eggplant Core Collection (Only 8 left in stock as of Mar 20, 2023)
  The collection consists of 100 accessions. They were selected based on DNA (SNP polymorphism) analysis and preserved as much variations as possible from total of nearly 1,000 accessions maintained at the NARO Genebank. Twenty seeds per accession can be made available upon request.
  Reference: Miyatake K et al. (2019) Construction of a core collection of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) based on genome-wide SNP and SSR genotypes. Breeding Science 69(3):498–502.
  • WEC-83 is currently not included in the distribution.
• World Foxtail Millet Core Collection (Only 5 left in stock as of Jan 17, 2023)
  Eighty-eight accessions of domesticated foxtail millet and 6 accessions of wild foxtail millet have been chosen based on genetic diversity in 425 accessions of domesticated foxtail millet and 12 accessions of wild foxtail millet which were revealed by transposon display with transposable elements found at the GBSS1 locus that controls endosperm waxiness. Fifty seeds per accession can be made available upon request.
  Reference: Hirano R et al. (2011) Genetic structure of landraces in foxtail millet (Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv.) revealed with transposon display and interpretaion to crop evolution of foxtail millet. Genome 54: 498–506.
• Local upland rice core collection (Only 1 left in stock as of Apr 28, 2023)
  The core collection was selected from 260 local upland rice genetic resources preserved in the Ibaraki Agriculture Center, on 11 morphological and physiological traits. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis using morphological and physiological data, enabled to classify the accessions into 7 groups. Thirty-two accessions were selected from all 7 groups as core collection. These accessions retained 86% of 11 traits diversity detected in the original 260 accessions, and included variation of other agronomic traits, e.g. shedding habit, viviparity, blast resistance. This collection will be used for studies on rice genetic diversity as well as breeding materials.
  Reference: Okano K et al. (2006) Development of Local Upland Rice Core Collection. Bulletin of the Plant Biotechnology Institute, Ibaraki Agricultural Center 9: 13–25. (Japanese with English Summary)