The genebank of the International Potato Center conserves potato and sweetpotato diversity.

CIP Genebank Website
CIP Genebank Publications
CIP’s collections of potato and sweetpotato are the world’s largest and contain nearly all of the potato wild relatives.
The in vitro genebank is the largest in the world and was one of the first genebanks to obtain ISO 17025 certification for safe and secure movement of germplasm.
The crops conserved at CIP are mostly propagated vegetatively, and so most of the accessions are kept as in vitro plants and in cryopreservation for long-term storage. The CIP genebank has been suggested as a center of excellence for cryobanking. The genebank has a large program to move more accessions into cryopreservation.
The CIP genebank also conserves accessions of nine types of Andean root and tuber crops.
The in vitro sweetpotato collection is backed up in Columbia while the in vitro potato collection is backed up in Brazil.
Key staff
Head of genebank: Noelle Anglin
Phytosanitary & quarantine specialist: Brenda Zea
Contact for ordering germplasm: CIP-Germplasm@cgiar.org
Key performance indicators of CGIAR genebanks, 2012-2019
HINT: Use the search key to filter the data. For descriptions of performance indicators, click here.Crop | Indicator | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Andean roots & tubers | Base number of accessions in the collections (see description note) | 1,202 | 1,172 | 2,529 | 2,529 | 2,526 | 2,526 | 2,526 | 2,526 |
Andean Roots & Tubers | Number of accessions that are viability tested, disease-free and with sufficient seed number for immediate distribution. | 402 | 0 | 68 | 39 | 39 | 47 | 73 | 74 |
Andean Roots & Tubers | Number of seed accessions in the collections | 138 | 80 | 530 | 530 | 534 | 530 | 530 | 530 |
Andean Roots & Tubers | Number of vegetatively-propagated accessions in the collections | 1,046 | 1,056 | 1,341 | 1,341 | 1,431 | 1,996 | 1,996 | 1,996 |
Andean Roots & Tubers | Number of live plant accessions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Andean Roots & Tubers | Numbers of accessions in seed collections held in long-term storage and safety duplicated in a major genebank and in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. | 98 | 219 | 331 | 415 | 444 | |||
Andean Roots & Tubers | Number of vegetatively-propagated accessions (e.g., roots, tubers, bananas) in cryopreservation or safety duplicated as in vitro samples. | 971 | 1,042 | 1,314 | 1,322 | 1,609 | 1,490 | 1,463 | 1,452 |
Andean Roots & Tubers | Of the accessions that are legally and physically available, how many are wild species? | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||||
Potato | Base number of accessions in the collections (see description note) | 6,831 | 6,991 | 7,107 | 7,140 | 6,809 | 7,323 | 7,209 | 7,224 |
Potato | Number of accessions that are viability tested, disease-free and with sufficient seed number for immediate distribution. | 2,676 | 2,085 | 2,124 | 1,694 | 1,318 | 3,459 | 4,231 | 4,728 |
Potato | Number of seed accessions in the collections | 13,943 | 2,402 | 2,280 | 2,355 | 2,361 | 2,304 | 2,338 | 2,329 |
Potato | Number of vegetatively-propagated accessions in the collections | 4,758 | 4,045 | 4,490 | 4,489 | 4,487 | 4,696 | 4,709 | 4,895 |
Potato | Number of live plant accessions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 31 |
Potato | Numbers of accessions in seed collections held in long-term storage and safety duplicated in a major genebank and in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. | 1,765 | 1,792 | 1,817 | 1,890 | 1,890 | |||
Potato | Number of vegetatively-propagated accessions (e.g., roots, tubers, bananas) in cryopreservation or safety duplicated as in vitro samples. | 5,386 | 5,236 | 4,614 | 6,248 | 6,276 | 4,474 | 4,523 | 4,702 |
Potato | Of the accessions that are legally and physically available, how many are wild species? | 1,134 | 1,227 | 1,287 | |||||
Sweet potato | Base number of accessions in the collections (see description note) | 7,588 | 7,593 | 6,547 | 6,375 | 6,414 | 8,049 | 8,054 | 8,080 |
Sweet potato | Number of accessions that are viability tested, disease-free and with sufficient seed number for immediate distribution. | 2,438 | 681 | 757 | 919 | 792 | 1,961 | 2,301 | 3,030 |
Sweet potato | Number of seed accessions in the collections | 3,817 | 3,817 | 1,254 | 1,092 | 1,092 | 2,090 | 2,090 | 2,091 |
Sweet potato | Number of vegetatively-propagated accessions in the collections | 5,545 | 5,200 | 5,293 | 5,289 | 5,328 | 5,959 | 5,964 | 5,989 |
Sweet potato | Number of live plant accessions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sweet potato | Numbers of accessions in seed collections held in long-term storage and safety duplicated in a major genebank and in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. | 242 | 290 | 432 | 462 | 462 | |||
Sweet potato | Number of vegetatively-propagated accessions (e.g., roots, tubers, bananas) in cryopreservation or safety duplicated as in vitro samples. | 4,450 | 3,721 | 3,889 | 5,211 | 5,563 | 3,763 | 4,971 | 5,267 |
Sweet potato | Of the accessions that are legally and physically available, how many are wild species? | 267 | - | 535 | |||||
All crops | Base number of accessions in the collections (see description note) | 15,621 | 15,756 | 16,183 | 16,044 | 15,749 | 17,898 | 17,789 | 17,830 |
All crops | Number of accessions that are viability tested, disease-free and with sufficient seed number for immediate distribution. | 5,516 | 2,766 | 2,949 | 2,652 | 2,149 | 5,467 | 6,605 | 7,832 |
All crops | Number of seed accessions in the collections | 17,898 | 6,299 | 4,064 | 3,977 | 3,987 | 4,924 | 4,958 | 4,950 |
All crops | Number of vegetatively-propagated accessions in the collections | 11,349 | 10,301 | 11,124 | 11,119 | 11,246 | 12,651 | 12,669 | 12,880 |
All crops | Number of live plant accessions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 31 |
All crops | Numbers of accessions in seed collections held in long-term storage and safety duplicated in a major genebank and in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2,105 | 2,301 | 2,580 | 2,767 | 2,796 |
All crops | Number of vegetatively-propagated accessions (e.g., roots, tubers, bananas) in cryopreservation or safety duplicated as in vitro samples. | 10,807 | 9,999 | 9,817 | 12,781 | 13,448 | 9,727 | 10,957 | 11,421 |
All crops | Of the accessions that are legally and physically available, how many are wild species? | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,402 | 1,228 | 1,824 |
Genebank operations, 2012-2019
HINT: Use the search key to filter the dataCrop | Indicator | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Andean roots & tubers | Number of accessions with passport & characterization data available | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | 2,526 |
Andean Roots & Tubers | Number accessions received | 0 | 936 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Andean Roots & Tubers | Number accessions regenerated | 23 | 21 | 64 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
Andean Roots & Tubers | Number accessions multiplied | 52 | 72 | 1,441 | 1,474 | 1,414 | 7,987 | 9,235 | 7,005 |
Andean Roots & Tubers | Number accessions health tested | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Andean Roots & Tubers | Number accessions cleaned | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Andean Roots & Tubers | Number accessions viability tested | 76 | 80 | 64 | 126 | 114 | 60 | 60 | 199 |
Potato | Number of accessions with passport & characterization data available | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | 7,182 |
Potato | Number accessions received | 119 | 245 | 211 | 0 | 1 | 50 | 0 | 104 |
Potato | Number accessions regenerated | 1,177 | 1,578 | 392 | 326 | 377 | 380 | 408 | 412 |
Potato | Number accessions multiplied | 3,942 | 3,662 | 7,947 | 3,684 | 3,321 | 19,460 | 22,356 | 14,602 |
Potato | Number accessions health tested | 1,034 | 725 | 591 | 604 | 293 | 575 | 742 | 718 |
Potato | Number accessions cleaned | 411 | 309 | 232 | 93 | 139 | 212 | 391 | 416 |
Potato | Number accessions viability tested | 0 | 0 | 506 | 468 | 1,003 | 777 | 610 | 550 |
Sweet potato | Number of accessions with passport & characterization data available | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | 8,075 |
Sweet potato | Number accessions received | 435 | 68 | 33 | 12 | 24 | 0 | 0 | |
Sweet potato | Number accessions regenerated | 137 | 0 | 91 | 126 | 160 | 3,083 | 159 | 0 |
Sweet potato | Number accessions multiplied | 214 | 2,852 | 5,363 | 5,200 | 5,125 | 23,684 | 40,094 | 28,233 |
Sweet potato | Number accessions health tested | 452 | 399 | 377 | 373 | 429 | 383 | 448 | 202 |
Sweet potato | Number accessions cleaned | 352 | 357 | 172 | 78 | 169 | 257 | 218 | 127 |
Sweet potato | Number accessions viability tested | 387 | 0 | 183 | 246 | 212 | 217 | 202 | 100 |
All crops | Number of accessions with passport & characterization data available | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | 17,783 |
All crops | Number accessions received | 554 | 1,249 | 255 | 12 | 25 | 50 | 0 | 104 |
All crops | Number accessions regenerated | 1,337 | 1,599 | 547 | 474 | 537 | 3,463 | 569 | 417 |
All crops | Number accessions multiplied | 4,208 | 6,586 | 14,751 | 10,358 | 9,860 | 51,131 | 71,685 | 49,840 |
All crops | Number accessions health tested | 1,486 | 1,124 | 968 | 977 | 722 | 958 | 1,190 | 920 |
All crops | Number accessions cleaned | 763 | 666 | 404 | 171 | 308 | 469 | 609 | 543 |
All crops | Number accessions viability tested | 463 | 80 | 753 | 840 | 1,329 | 1,054 | 872 | 849 |
Number of samples distributed to users within and outside the CGIAR, 2012-2019
HINT: Use the search key to filter the data. For descriptions of performance indicators, click here.Crop | Indicator | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
All crops | Total number external germplasm requests | 159 | 88 | 54 | 64 | 89 | 81 | 74 | 66 |
All crops | Total number external germplasm requests | 159 | 88 | 54 | 64 | 89 | 81 | 74 | 66 |
All crops | Number of samples distributed internally within the Center and to another CGIAR Center | 9,068 | 3,342 | 875 | 3,021 | 2,126 | 114 | 1,307 | 966 |
All crops | Number of samples distributed to users outside the CGIAR | 1,639 | 1,434 | 2,219 | 2,293 | 2,026 | 3,523 | 976 | 2,126 |
All crops | Sum of samples distributed within and outside the CGIAR | 10,707 | 4,776 | 3,094 | 5,314 | 4,152 | 3,637 | 2,283 | 3,092 |
All crops | Number of accessions distributed internally within the Center and to another CGIAR Center | 5,850 | 2,575 | 630 | 2,175 | 2,007 | 112 | 935 | 810 |
All crops | Number of accessions distributed to users outside the CGIAR | 994 | 706 | 1,445 | 1,458 | 1,057 | 3,294 | 783 | 748 |
All crops | Sum of accessions distributed within and outside the CGIAR | 6,844 | 3,281 | 2,075 | 3,633 | 3,064 | 3,406 | 1,718 | 1,558 |
Publications by CIP genebank staff in 2019
Recent publications with at least one CGIAR genebank staff as author. HINT: Use the search key to filter the data.Authors | Article title | Publication name | URL |
---|---|---|---|
Gutaker, R.M.; Weiss, C.L.; Ellis, D.; Anglin, N.L.; Knapp, S.; Fernandez-Alonso, J.L.; Prat, S.; Burbano, H.A. 2019. | The origins and adaptation of European potatoes reconstructed from historical genomes | Nature Ecology and Evolution | READ |
Villagaray, R.; Castro, M.; Anglin, N.L.; Ellis, D. | Cryopreserved potato shoot tips showed genotype-specific response to sucrose concentration in rewarming solution (RS) | Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture | READ |
Otyama, P.I.; Wilkey, A.; Kulkarni, R.; Assefa, T.; Chu, Y.; Clevenger, J.; O’Connor, D.J.; Wright, G.C.; Dezern, S.W.; Macdonald, G.E.; Anglin, N.L.; Cannon, E.K.S.; Ozias-Akins, P.; Cannon, S.B. | Evaluation of linkage disequilibrium, population structure, and genetic diversity in the U.S. peanut mini core collection | BMC Genetics | READ |
Muñoz-Rodríguez, P.; Carruthers, T.; Wood, J.R.I.; Williams, B.R.M.; Weitemier, K.; Kronmiller, B.; Goodwin, Z.; Sumadijaya, A.; Anglin, N.L.; Filer, D.; Harris, D.; Rausher, M.D.; Kelly, S.; Liston, A.; Scotland, R.W. | A taxonomic monograph of Ipomoea integrated across phylogenetic scales. | Nature Plants | READ |
Quispe-Huamanquispe, D. G.; Gheysen G.; Yang, J.; Jarret, R.; Rossel, G.; Kreuze, J. F. | The horizontal gene transfer of Agrobacterium T-DNAs into the series Batatas (Genus Ipomoea) genome is not confined to hexaploid sweetpotato. | Scientific Reports | READ |
Drapal, M.; Rossel, G.; Heider, G.; Fraser, P.D. | Metabolic diversity in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas, Lam.) leaves and storage roots | Horticulture Research | READ |
Kyriakidou M, Achakkagari SR, Galvez JHL, Zhu X, Tang CU, Tai H, Anglin NL, Ellis D, Stromvik M. | Structural genome analysis in cultivated potato | Theoretical and Applied Genetics | READ |
Publications by CIP genebank staff in 2018
Recent publications with at least one CGIAR genebank staff as author. HINT: Use the search key to filter the data.Authors | Article title | Publication name | URL |
---|---|---|---|
Vollmer, R., Villagaray, R., Castro, M, Anglin, N.L., Ellis, D. | Cryopreserved potato shoot tips showed genotype-specific response to sucrose concentration in rewarming solution (RS). | Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture | READ |
Ellis, D., Chavez, O., Coombs, J., Soto, J., Gomez, R., Douches, D., Panta, A., Silvestre, R., Anglin, N. | Genetic identity in genebanks: application of the SolCAP 12K SNP array in fingerprinting and diversity analysis in the global in trust potato collection. | Genome | READ |
Kyriakidou, M., Tai, H.H., Anglin, N.L., Ellis, D., Stromvik, M.V. | Current strategies of polyploid plant genome sequence assembly. | Frontiers in Plant Science | READ |
Ramirez, D., Yactayo, W., Rolando, J.L., Quiroz, R. | Preliminary evidence of nocturnal transpiration and stomatal conductance in potato and their interaction with drought and yield. | American Journal of Potato Research | READ |
Muñoz-Rodriguez, P., Carruthers, T., Wood, J.R.I., Williams, B.R.M., Weitemier, K., Kronmiller, B., Ellis, D., Anglin, N.L., Longway, L., Harris, S.A., Rausher, M.D., Kelly, S., Liston, A., Scotland, R.W. | Reconciling conflicting phylogenies in the origin of sweet potato and dispersal to Polynesia. | Current Biology | READ |
Herrera, M.R., Jara Vidalon, L., Montenegro, J.D., Riccio, C., Guzman, F.,Bartolini, I.,Ghislain, M. | Molecular and genetic characterization of the Ry adg locus on chromosome XI from Andigena potatoes conferring extreme resistance to potato virus Y. | Theoretical and Applied Genetics | READ |
Sosa, P., Guild, G., Burgos, G., Bonierbale, M., Felde, T.zum. | Potential and application of X-ray fluorescence spectrometry to estimate iron and zinc concentration in potato tubers. | Journal of Food Composition and Analysis | READ |
Quiroz, R., Ramírez, D.A., Kroschel, J., Andrade-Piedra, J.L., Barreda, C., Condori, B., Mares, V., Monneveux, P., Perez, W. | Impact of climate change on the potato crop and biodiversity in its center of origin. | Open Agriculture | READ |
Souza, J. de, Gamarra, H., Muller, G., Kreuze, J. | First report of potato virus S naturally infecting arracacha (Arracacia xanthorrhiza) in Peru. | Plant Disease | READ |
Publications by CIP genebank staff in 2017
Recent publications with at least one CGIAR genebank staff as author. HINT: Use the search key to filter the data.Authors | Article title | Publication name | URL |
---|---|---|---|
Ellis, D., Chavez, O., Coombs, J., Soto, J., Gomez, R., Douches, D., Panta, A., Silvestre, R., Anglin, N. | Genetic identity in genebanks: application of the SolCAP 12K SNP array in fingerprinting and diversity analysis in the global in trust potato collection. | Genome | READ |
Vollmer, R., Villagaray, R., Cárdenas, J., Castro, M., Chávez, O., Anglin, N. and Ellis, D. | A large-scale viability assessment of the potato cryobank at the International Potato Center (CIP). | In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant | READ |
Gálvez, J., Tai, H.,Anglin, N., Gardner, K., Ellis, D., Strömvik, M. | Understanding potato with the help of genomics. | AIMS Agriculture and Food | READ |
Ramírez, D.A.,Gavilán, C., Barreda, C., Condori, B., Rossel, G., Mwanga, R.O.M., Andrade, M., Monneveu, P., Anglin⁺, N.L.D., Ellis⁺, Q. | Characterizing the diversity of sweetpotato through growth parameters and leaf traits: Precocity and light use efficiency as important ordination factors. | South African Journal of Botany | READ |
Zheng, Y., Gao, S., Padmanabhan, Li, R., Galvez, M., Gutierrez, D., Fuentes, S., ShuLing, K., Kreuze, J., Fei, | VirusDetect: An automated pipeline for efficient virus discovery using deep sequencing of small RNAs. | Virology | READ |
Ramírez, D., Kreuze, J., Amoros, W., Valdivia-Silva, J.,Ranck, J., Garcia, S., Salas, E.,Yactayo, W. | Extreme salinity as a challenge to grow potatoes under Mars-like soil conditions: targeting promising genotypes. | International Journal of Astrobiology | READ |