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Warwick Crop Centre UK Vegetable Genebank

Collections

  • Brassica

    ~5,200 Brassica, including cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, kale, turnip, swede and oil seed rape

  • Alliums

    ~ 1,700 including onions, leeks, garlic and shallots

  • Carrots

    ~1,500 carrots

  • Lettuce

    ~ 1,500 lettuce

  • Radish

    ~ 800 radish

  • Beet

    ~120 beet

  • Other crops

    Including asparagus, celery, celeriac, chicory, parsnips, rocket and spinach

UKVGB collections

The UK Vegetable Genebank (UKVGB) manages a collection of ~14,000 samples of vegetable seed, including carrots, broccoli, onions, lettuce, radish and beetroot. It provides access to a huge range of genetic diversity, the raw material for plant breeding.

The collection includes crop wild relatives and landraces (a variety that has become adapted to local conditions) which often hold a breadth of untapped genetic diversity.

Our seed is sent to researchers all around the world who study the samples to identify useful traits, which can then be used to develop novel varieties.

Seed requests

The UKVGB collections are available to all organisations carrying out plant breeding, research, education, training and development.

Search and order seed from the collections
Boxes stored on shelf in freezer

Conservation & storage

Our collections are stored and managed following international guidelines to safeguard them for future generations.

Radish plants labelled in a field

Data & documentation

Data management underpins all our work. We are continually working to curate and collate our data to improve it for our users.

Brassica seed in a sieve

Specialist collections

We manage a number of specialist research collections, including the European Clubroot Differential Series.

Take a tour

Take a virtual tour and see how our facilities help us to conserve crop genetic diversity.

UKVGB history

The UKVGB was established in 1980.

Learn more about the history of the UKVGB and the Warwick Crop Centre, where we are located.

Ariel view of the UKVGB site