Speaking of genebank multiplication plots, I’m told this is the best time of year to stroll through rice ones, and get an idea of the diversity on display. Here’s the evidence, courtesy of our friends at IRRI.
The genebank tries to alternate early- and late-maturing varieties when regenerating accessions, as you can clearly see from this Google Earth shot from March last year, half way through the harvest (the coordinates are 14.15°N 121.26°E, in case you want to check for yourself, and here’s the kmz file).
Meanwhile, the Nordic genebank is struggling with its multiplication.