WORLD RHIZOBIUM STUDY AND COLLECTION CENTER

ONSITE EVALUATION NOTES THAT PROGRESS IS BEING MADE, BUT UNAVOIDABLE DIFFICULTUES IN STAFFING AND FACILITY MODERNIZATION DELAYED THE PROJECT FOR ALMOST 12 MONTHS. THE USDA RHIZOBIUM BACTERIA COLLECTION HAS INCREASED FROM 891 STRAINS TO 1098 (23%) AMD A TOTAL OF 740 RHIZOBIUM CULTURES WERE SENT AS PLANNED TO 142 RESEARCH GROUPS IN 39 COUNTRIES. THE VALIDITY OF THE DECISION TO MAKE BELTSVILLE, MD, A WORLD RHIZOBIUM COLLECTION CENTER WAS REAFFIRMED. EXPERIENCED PERSONNEL, DEDICATED INTEREST, AND ACCESSIBILITY WERE CITED AS MAKING USDA THE MOST QUALIFIED INSTITUTION FOR A TRULY INTERNATIONAL SOURCE OF RHIZOBIUM CULTURE. RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE: 1)EXTENSION OF THE PROJECT FOR AT LEAST 6 MONTHS WITHOUT ADDITIONAL FUNDING; 2)REVISION OF CPI TIME SCHEDULE FOR INITIAL 3 YEARS OF PROJECT PLUS UNFUNDED EXTENSION; AND 3)EXTENSION OF PROJECT FOR 3 YEARS WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO CONTINUE EMPHASIS ON THE RHIZOBIUM GERM PLASM BOOK WITH EMPHASIS ON TROPICAL LEGUMES AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS. IT WAS LEARNED THAT FLEXIBILITY IN THE DATE OF PROJECT INITIATION SHOULD BE PROVIDED WHEN DELAYS IN ACQUIRING STAFF OR CONSTRUCTION OF NEW FACILITIES MAY BE ANTICIPATED, SINCE IN A PROJECT OF LONG-TERM IMPORTANCE SUCH AS THIS, 3 YEARS IS A VERY SHORT TIME FOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SO MANY MAJOR OBJECTIVES.