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Passport data

When you search for a plant sample in Genesys, you will see various details about its identity and origin. We call this information passport data.

You can think of passport data as a passport for a plant. Just as your personal passport shows who you are and where you are from, passport data describes a sample's identity and history. This helps researchers and breeders find exactly the material they need for their work.

Multi-Crop Passport Descriptors

This guide is based on the Multi-Crop Passport Descriptors (MCPD), which is the technical standard that data providers use to share information with Genesys.

Understanding identifiers​

A single sample often has several different identifiers. Here is a guide to what they mean:

Digital object identifier (DOI)​

Genesys uses the PUID descriptor to ensure a global standard for identification. A DOI is a permanent link that allows anyone to find the exact same record, regardless of the database they use.

Accession number​

This is an internal ID assigned by the genebank that stores the sample, recorded as the accession number. It works similarly to a library catalog number, as every genebank uses its own numbering system.

Collecting number​

This is the original ID assigned by the person who first found the sample in the wild or collected it from a farm (see collecting number). This number is essential for tracking duplicate samples across genebanks worldwide.

Other identifiers​

Some samples have identifiers from several different collections. We include these to keep related records connected.

The institutional trail​

Because plants often move between organizations, we track their history using these identifiers:

  • Institutional codes: Official codes that identify where a sample is currently held, much like a zip code for an institute.
  • Collecting institute: The official code of the institute that first collected the sample.
  • Breeder information: Details about who bred the plant, if it was created by a researcher.
  • Donor information: If the sample came from another institute, we record the providing organization and their internal ID.

Taxonomy: naming the plant​

Plants are named using a scientific system called taxonomy. This ensures that everyone refers to the same plant, regardless of the language they use.

  • Genus: The general group the plant belongs to.
  • Species: The specific type of plant within that genus.
  • Subtaxon: Further details, such as the variety or subspecies.
  • Common name: The name used in everyday language.

You might also see an authority listed next to the scientific name. This is the scientist who first officially described the plant.

Collecting information​

Passport data shows exactly where a plant was found. This information is vital for understanding how the plant adapted and its genetic diversity.

Common details include:

The collecting mission​

Plants are often collected during organized trips known as collecting missions. We record the mission ID and the organizing institute so researchers can find other samples collected during the same trip.

Other useful details​

Other details can provide more context about a sample:

Biological status​

The biological status describes the improvement level of the plant material. This indicates whether it was collected or developed:

  • Collected material: Plants found in nature or traditional farming, such as wild relatives or landraces (traditional varieties).
  • Developed material: Plants specifically bred or improved by humans, such as breeder's lines, hybrids, or modern cultivars.

This helps researchers determine if they are working with raw genetic diversity or material optimized for specific traits.

For developed material, we also record its ancestry, which describes its parents or breeding history, much like a family tree.

Source of the sample​

The source of the sample describes where the plant was obtained, such as from a wild forest, a farmer's field, a local market, or another research institute.

Safety duplicates​

To prevent the loss of genetic diversity, important samples are often stored in multiple locations (see safety duplicates). You can see which institutes hold these backups.

MLS status​

The Multilateral System (MLS) status refers to a global agreement called the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. This agreement makes it easier to share and access plant genetic resources to support global food security.

Other administrative details​

Finally, several administrative details help genebanks manage their collections:

  • Acquisition: Records when the sample arrived in the collection and any official name it received.
  • Storage: Describes how the sample is kept, such as in a seed freezer, in vitro (in a test tube), or in a living field collection.
  • Remarks: A field for unique notes or extra information that does not fit into standard categories.