Legacy genetics of Arachis cardenasii in the peanut crop shows the profound benefits of international seed exchange

The narrow genetics of most crops is a fundamental vulnerability to food security. This makes wild crop relatives a strategic resource of genetic diversity that can be used for crop improvement and adaptation to new agricultural challenges. Here, we uncover the contribution of one wild species accession, Arachis cardenasii GKP 10017, to the peanut crop (Arachis hypogaea) that was initiated by complex hybridizations in the 1960s and propagated by international seed exchange. However, until this study, the global scale of the dispersal of genetic contributions from this wild accession had been obscured by the multiple germplasm transfers, breeding cycles, and unrecorded genetic mixing between lineages that had occurred over the years. By genetic analysis and pedigree research, we identified A. cardenasii–enhanced, disease-resistant cultivars in Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. These cultivars provide widespread improved food security and environmental and economic benefits. This study emphasizes the importance of wild species and collaborative networks of international expertise for crop improvement. However, it also highlights the consequences of the implementation of a patchwork of restrictive national laws and sea changes in attitudes regarding germplasm that followed in the wake of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Today, the botanical collections and multiple seed exchanges which enable benefits such as those revealed by this study are drastically reduced. The research reported here underscores the vital importance of ready access to germplasm in ensuring long-term world food security.

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ValSten: a new wild species derived allotetraploid for increasing genetic diversity of the peanut crop (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution ◽

10.1007/s10722-020-01076-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Dongying Gao ◽

Ana C. G. Araujo ◽

Eliza F. M. B. Nascimento ◽

M. Carolina Chavarro ◽

Han Xia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Resistance ◽

Wild Species ◽

Chromosome Doubling ◽

Crop Improvement ◽

Snp Array ◽

Great Majority ◽

Morphological Variations ◽

Peanut Crop ◽

Cultivated Peanut ◽

Wild Peanut

AbstractIntrogression of desirable traits from wild relatives plays an important role in crop improvement, as wild species have important characters such as high resistance to pests and pathogens. However, use of wild peanut relatives is challenging because almost all wild species are diploid and sexually incompatible with cultivated peanut, which is tetraploid (AABB genome type; 2n = 4x = 40). To overcome the ploidy barrier, we used 2 wild species to make a tetraploid with the same allotetraploid genome composition as cultivated peanut. Crosses were made between 2 diploid wild species, Arachis valida Krapov. and W.C. Greg. (BB genome; 2n = 2x = 20) and Arachis stenosperma Krapov. and W.C. Greg. (AA genome; 2n = 2x = 20). Cuttings from the diploid F1 AB hybrid were treated with colchicine to induce chromosome doubling thus generating an induced allotetraploid. Chromosome counts confirmed polyploidy (AABB genome; 2n = 4x = 40). We named the new allotetraploid ValSten. Plants had well-developed fertile pollen, produced abundant seed and were sexually compatible with cultivated peanut. ValSten exhibits the same high resistance to early and late leaf spot and rust as its diploid parents. Notably, we observed morphological variations, including flower width and branch angles in the earliest generation (S0) of allotetraploids. A SNP array was used to genotype 47 S0 allotetraploids. The great majority of markers showed the additive allelic state from both parents (AABB). However, some loci were AAAA or BBBB, indicating homeologous recombination. ValSten provides a new, vigorous, highly fertile, disease resistant germplasm for peanut research and improvement.

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The conservation costs and economic benefits of using biodiversity offsets to meet international targets for protected area expansion

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605317001521 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 53 (4) ◽

pp. 732-740 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Falko T. Buschke ◽

Susie Brownlie ◽

Jeff Manuel

Keyword(s):

Economic Development ◽

Protected Areas ◽

Protected Area ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Economic Benefits ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

Biodiversity Offsets ◽

Trade Offs ◽

Conservation Costs ◽

Area Expansion

AbstractAichi Biodiversity Target 11 under the Convention on Biological Diversity sets out to conserve at least 17% of terrestrial area by 2020. However, few countries are on track to meet this target and it is uncertain whether developing countries have allocated sufficient resources to expand their protected areas. Biodiversity offsets could resolve this conservation shortfall if developers who affect biodiversity negatively at one locality are made responsible for its protection elsewhere. Here we simulate the use of biodiversity offsetting to expand protected area coverage in South Africa's grassland biome. South Africa's biodiversity offsets policy has been designed specifically to compensate for the residual loss of biodiversity caused by development, by establishing and managing protected areas within the same ecosystem type. We show that it is possible to meet protected area targets using only offsets, while facilitating economic development. However, doing so could slash the current extent of intact habitat by half. These losses could be reduced considerably should the gains in protected areas through offsetting supplement rather than supplant existing government commitments to protected area expansion. Moreover, supplementing existing government commitments would result in comparatively small reductions in potential economic gains, because the marginal economic benefit of transforming habitat decreases as more intact habitat is lost. Therefore, the intended role of biodiversity offsetting in achieving a country's protected area target should be made explicit to fully understand the associated trade-offs between conservation and economic development.

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Evaluation of molecular variability in germplasm of vanilla (Vanilla planifoliaG. Jackson in Andrews) in Southeast Mexico: implications for genetic improvement and conservation

Plant Genetic Resources ◽

10.1017/s1479262115000660 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. 310-320 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Alma Laura Ramos-Castellá ◽

Lourdes G. Iglesias-Andreu ◽

Jaime Martínez-Castillo ◽

Matilde Ortíz-García ◽

Rubén Humberto Andueza-Noh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Structure Analysis ◽

Wild Species ◽

Crop Improvement ◽

Quintana Roo ◽

Wild Accession ◽

Vanilla Planifolia ◽

Molecular Variability ◽

Assignment Tests ◽

Sources Of Variation ◽

Wild Accessions

Molecular variability of vanilla (Vanilla planifolia) and three wild species was assessed to explore the possible sources of variation that can be used for crop improvement. A total of 154 ISSR loci were analysed by the UPGMA, assignment tests of individuals (STRUCTURE) and indices of genetic diversity. The assignment tests were done at two levels: first considering the four species and then only the accessions ofV. planifolia. The molecular analysis indicated 99.3% polymorphism among all species and 70.45% withinV. planifolia. The UPGMA showed the separation of these four species into three groups and groupedV. planifoliaaccessions into three subgroups. The more genetically differentiated accessions were of the Rayada morphotype and a wild accession was from Oaxaca, followed by a wild accession from Quintana Roo; all the commercial accessions ofV. planifolia(Mansa morphotype) were grouped together. The STRUCTURE analysis differentiated betweenV. planifoliaand the three wild species, and among the accessions of the Mansa and Rayada morphotypes and the wild accessions. The STRUCTURE analysis also indicated the presence of mixed individuals. These results are of great importance since the accessions ofV. planifoliathat are genetically more differentiated are the most threatened due to the scarcity of these individuals, the destruction of habitat and replacement by the commercial morphotype. These individuals should be salvaged and used to expand the genetic background of vanilla.

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A review of access and benefitsharing for biological control what does it mean for New Zealand

New Zealand Plant Protection ◽

10.30843/nzpp.2009.62.4770 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 62 ◽

pp. 152-155

Author(s):

B.I.P. Barratt

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Food Security ◽

Genetic Resources ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Benefit Sharing ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

Biological Control Agents ◽

Access And Benefit Sharing ◽

Food And Agriculture ◽

Global Exchange

The Convention on Biological Diversity promotes equitable and respectful sharing of access to and benefits from genetic resources Parties to the convention have agreed to negotiate and develop an Access and BenefitSharing (ABS) regime to take effect in 2010 Currently some countries have restricted access to their biological resources To consider issues pertaining to biological control the Global IOBC (International Organisation for Biological Control of Noxious Animals and Plants) has established a Commission on Biological Control and Access and Benefit Sharing The FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation) Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (GRFA) has invited the IOBC Commission to prepare a report on the case for biological control agents The global exchange of biological control agents is considered critical to food security and sustainable agriculture and reaching a consensus on this issue is a high priority The process for this and the importance of protecting New Zealands interests in biological control is discussed in this paper

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Prevalence of sustainable and unsustainable use of wild species inferred from the IUCN Red List

10.1101/2020.11.04.367763 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Sophie M.E. Marsh ◽

Michael Hoffmann ◽

Neil D. Burgess ◽

Thomas M. Brooks ◽

Daniel W.S. Challender ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wild Species ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Extinction Risk ◽

Sustainable Use ◽

Iucn Red List ◽

Red List ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

Human Consumption ◽

Management Actions ◽

Taxonomic Groups

AbstractUnsustainable exploitation of wild species represents a serious threat to biodiversity and to the livelihoods of local communities and indigenous peoples. However, managed, sustainable use has the potential to forestall extinctions, aid recovery, and meet human needs. Here, we infer current prevalence of unsustainable and sustainable biological resource use among species groups; research to date has focused on the former with little consideration of the latter. We analyzed species-level data for 30,923 species from 13 taxonomic groups comprehensively assessed on the IUCN Red List. Our results demonstrate the broad taxonomic prevalence of use, with 40% of species (10,098 of 25,009 from 10 taxonomic groups with adequate data) documented as being used. The main purposes of use are pets, display animals and horticulture, and human consumption. Use is often biologically unsustainable: intentional use is currently considered to be contributing to elevated extinction risk for more than one quarter of all threatened or Near Threatened (NT) species (2,752 – 2,848 of 9,753 species). Of the species used and traded, intentional use threatens 16% (1,597 – 1,631 of 10,098 species). However, 36% of species that are used (3,651 of 10,098 species) have either stable or improving population trends and do not have biological use documented as a threat, including 172 threatened or NT species. It is not yet inferable whether use of the remaining 48% of species is sustainable; we make suggestions for improving use-related Red List data to elucidate this. Around a third of species that have use documented as a threat are not currently receiving any species management actions that directly address this threat. Our findings on the prevalence of sustainable and unsustainable use, and variation across taxa, are important for informing international policymaking, including IPBES, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.Article impact statementUse is likely unsustainable for 16%, likely sustainable for 36%, and undetermined for 48% of ~10,000 wild species analyzed on the Red List.

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Collecting wild Miscanthus germplasm in Asia for crop improvement and conservation in Europe whilst adhering to the guidelines of the United Nations’ Convention on Biological Diversity

Annals of Botany ◽

10.1093/aob/mcy231 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 124 (4) ◽

pp. 591-604 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Lin S Huang ◽

Richard Flavell ◽

Iain S Donnison ◽

Yu-Chung Chiang ◽

Astley Hastings ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United Nations ◽

Best Practice ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Crop Improvement ◽

Germplasm Collection ◽

Breeding Programme ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

F1 Hybrid ◽

The United Nations ◽

General Aspects

Abstract Background and Aims Germplasm with diverse, agronomically relevant traits forms the foundation of a successful plant breeding programme. Since 1993, the United Nations has been advocating the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the subsequent 2002 Bonn Guidelines as international best practice on germplasm collection and use. In 2006, a European team made an expedition to Asia to collect wild germplasm of Miscanthus, a C4 perennial rhizomatous grass, for breeding an environmentally adaptable, resilient and high-yielding bioenergy crop. We outline general aspects of germplasm collection, conservation, breeding and biomass production evaluation while following the CBD’s guidelines, respecting biodiversity and conservation needs, and the ethical use of genetic resources. Methods Effective protocols, quarantine, methods for collecting seed and rhizomes, and a genebank for conservation were established. Versatile informatics and database architecture were used to assist in selection, flowering synchronization, crossing, evaluation, phenotyping and data integration. Approaches were formulated to comply with the CBD guidelines. Key Results A total of 303 accessions of M. sinensis, M. sacchariflorus and M. floridulus were collected from 158 geographically and environmentally diverse locations. These species were shown to accumulate different amounts of aerial biomass due to combinations of stem count, height and thickness. Progeny from one interspecies cross accumulated more biomass in early trials and has shown double the yield performance in years 3–4 compared with the existing commercial cultivar M. × giganteus. An example of an F1 hybrid has already demonstrated the long-term potential of exploiting this collection for a breeding programme. Conclusions By conforming to the CBD principles, the authors’ international collaboration provides a practical example of implementing the CBD. The collection widened the genetic diversity of Miscanthus available to allow for breeding of novel hybrids that exhibit more diverse traits to increase yield and resilience for growth on marginal land and in climate-challenged environments.

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Development of Agriculture Biotechnology in Pakistan

Journal of AOAC International ◽

10.1093/jaoac/90.5.1500 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 90 (5) ◽

pp. 1500-1507 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Yusuf Zafar

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

Poverty Reduction ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Crop Improvement ◽

Gm Crops ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

Gm Crop ◽

Agriculture Sector ◽

Trained Manpower ◽

Sterility Genes

Abstract Agriculture plays an important role in the national economy of Pakistan, where most of the rapidly increasing population resides in rural areas and depends on agriculture for subsistence. Biotechnology has considerable potential for promoting the efficiency of crop improvement, food production, and poverty reduction. Use of modern biotechnology started in Pakistan since 1985. Currently, there are 29 biotech centers/institutes in the country. However, few centers have appropriate physical facilities and trained manpower to develop genetically modified (GM) crops. Most of the activities have been on rice and cotton, which are among the top 5 crops of Pakistan. Biotic (virus/bacterial/insect) and abiotic (salt) resistant and quality (male sterility) genes have already been incorporated in some crop plants. Despite acquiring capacity to produce transgenic plants, no GM crops, either produced locally or imported, have been released in the country. Pakistan is signatory to the World Trade Organization, Convention on Biological Diversity, and Cartagena protocols. Several legislations under the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights have been promulgated in the country. National Biosafety Guidelines have been promulgated in April 2005. The Plant Breeders Rights Act, Amendment in Seed Act-1976, and Geographical Indication for Goods are still passing through discussion, evaluation, and analysis phases. Meanwhile, an illegal GM crop (cotton) has already sneaked into farmer's field. Concerted and coordinated efforts are needed among various ministries for implementation of regulation and capacity building for import/export and local handling of GM crops. Pakistan could easily benefit from the experience of Asian countries, especially China and India, where conditions are similar and the agriculture sector is almost like that of Pakistan. Thus, the exchange of information and experiences is important among these nations.

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Evolving Political Issues Affecting International Exchange of Arachis Genetic Resources

Peanut Science ◽

10.3146/i0095-3679-28-2-15 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 132-135 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

K. A. Williams ◽

D. E. Williams

Keyword(s):

Genetic Resources ◽

Latin American ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Plant Genetic Resources ◽

Benefit Sharing ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

International Exchange ◽

Political Climate ◽

Germplasm Exchange ◽

World Food Security

Abstract While plant genetic resources continue to be essential for world food security, the exchange of these resources between countries has become increasingly encumbered during recent years. The free and open access to genetic resources that previously was considered the “common heritage of mankind” has been fundamentally changed by international multilateral agreements that recognize national sovereignty over genetic resources. Since the entry into force of the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1993, many countries have implemented laws regulating access to their genetic resources. The development of legislation in several countries comprising the primary areas of origin and diversity of Arachis makes issues associated with germplasm exchange particularly relevant to investigators working with peanut. This paper describes some recent USDA experiences with obtaining access in Latin American countries harboring peanut genetic resources. Also discussed are implications and prospects for future international germplasm exchange, including aspects of collaborative research and benefit sharing with germplasm donor countries. Within this new political climate, the establishment of mutually beneficial precedents for accessing foreign genetic resources will be crucial for ensuring the continued exchange, conservation, and use of Arachis germplasm in the future.

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