Germplasm Conservation as a Key for Food Security

Security of any country as well as the whole world can be ensure through the conservation of germplasm since they are genetic resources that can be used to prolong a population of an organism. Plant genetic resources (PGR) are the foundation of agriculture as well as food and nutritional security. The ICAR-NBPGR is key institution at national level for management of PGR in India under Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi. India being rich in both flora and fauna germplasm diversity also have challenge of protecting its natural heritage. At the same time, we also have mutually beneficial strategies for germplasm exchange with other countries. The National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) activities include PGR exploration, collection, exchange, characteri- zation, evaluation, conservation and documentation. It also perform the responsibility to carry out quarantine of all imported PGR. NBPGR collects and acquires germplasm from various sources, conserves it in the Genebank, characterizes and evaluates it for different traits and provides ready material for breeders to develop varieties for farmers. At present, the National Genebank conserves more than 0.45 million accessions. NBPGR is responsible for identifying trait-specific pre-adapted climate resilient genotypes, promising material with disease resistance and quality traits which the breeders use for various crop improvement programmes. The prime focus area of research of NBPGR at present is is on characterization of ex situ conserved germplasm and detailed evaluation of prioritized crops for enhanced utilization. identification of novel genes and alleles for enhanced utilization of PGR; identification and deployment of germplasm/landraces.

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THE PORTUGUESE NATIONAL INVENTORY ON PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES 2018 - DEVELOPMENT AND STATUS

International Journal of Research -GRANTHAALAYAH ◽

10.29121/granthaalayah.v6.i11.2018.1094 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 (11) ◽

pp. 109-120

Author(s):

Filomena Rocha

Keyword(s):

Genetic Resources ◽

Plant Genetic Resources ◽

National Level ◽

Fruit Trees ◽

Grain Legumes ◽

Ex Situ ◽

Seed Collection ◽

National Inventory ◽

Cultivated Species ◽

Global Platform

Since the 1970s, Portugal has been endeavouring systematic and coordinated efforts for ex situ conservation of plant genetic resources. Portugal maintains in ex situ a large seed collection of cultivated species (cereals, fibres, grain legumes, vegetables), wild species (forages, MAP species), also national clone collections of olive, fruit trees and grapes. In 2011 the Portuguese National Genebank (BPGV) and ISOPLEXIS implemented the GRIN-Global platform, as provides the opportunity to increase data quality, to have long term sustainability for data curation, integrates all collections in one management system optimizing the costs and staff resources. Now, the main objective in Portugal is to implement the Grin Global Platform at the national level to consolidate its National Programme of Plant Genetic Resources (NPPGR) with all national partners directly involved in the conservation of PGR. The main objectives of this communication are: to demonstrate the valuable contribution of the Grin-Global platform to the NPPGR; discuss the development and status of the Portugal’s National Inventory 2018 in EURISCO, analyse the evolution of the amount of passport information in EURISCO from 2015 to 2018; to address the steps that are being taken in Portugal for the Implementation of the Grin-Global Platform at the national level.

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Morphological diversity in brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) germplasm accessions

Plant Genetic Resources ◽

10.1017/s1479262108994211 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 232-236 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Gunjeet Kumar ◽

B. L. Meena ◽

Ranjan Kar ◽

Shailesh K. Tiwari ◽

K. K. Gangopadhyay ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Resources ◽

Plant Genetic Resources ◽

Crop Improvement ◽

Solanum Melongena ◽

Morphological Diversity ◽

National Bureau ◽

Starting Point ◽

Wide Range ◽

Breeding Programmes ◽

Improvement Programme

Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) is an important solanaceous vegetable in many countries of Asia and Africa. It is a good source of minerals and vitamins in the tropical diets. Assessment of genetic resources is the starting point of any crop improvement programme. In India, the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources is the nodal institute for management of germplasm resources of crop plants and holds more than 2500 accessions of brinjal in its genebank. In the present study, morphological diversity in a set of 622 accessions, comprising 543 accessions from indigenous sources and 79 accessions of exotic origin, was assessed. Wide range of variations for 31 descriptors, 13 quantitative and 18 qualitative, were recorded. The wide regional variations for plant, flower and fruit descriptors revealed enough scope for improvement of yield characters by selection. The genetic differences among the landraces are potentially relevant to breeding programmes in that the variability created through hybridization of the contrasting forms could be exploited.

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Advances in the Brazilian animal genetic resources conservation programme

Animal Genetic Resources Information ◽

10.1017/s1014233900003497 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 25 ◽

pp. 107-121 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

A. da S. Mariante ◽

M. do S.M. Albuquerque ◽

A. A. do Egito ◽

C. McManus

Keyword(s):

Natural Selection ◽

Genetic Resources ◽

Agricultural Research ◽

National Level ◽

Genetic Material ◽

Genetic Distances ◽

Ex Situ ◽

Research Centre ◽

Conservation Programme ◽

Resources Conservation

SummaryBrazil has various species of domestic animals which developed from breeds brought by the Portuguese settlers soon after the discovery. Over the last five centuries, these breeds have been submitted to natural selection in particular environments and therefore today, they present characteristics adapted to the specific environmental conditions. From the beginning of this century, some exotic breeds, selected in temperate regions, have begun to be imported. Although more productive, these breeds lack adaptation traits, such as resistance to disease and parasites found in breeds considered to be“native” but even so, little by little, they have substituted the native breeds to such an extent that the latter are, today, in danger of extinction. To avoid the loss of this important genetic material, Brazil created an Animal Genetics Resource Conservation Programme, coordinated by the National Research Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (Cenargen) of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMPRAPA). The conservation has been carried out by various Research Centres of EMPRAPA, Universities, State Research Corporations, as well as by private farmers, with a single coordinator at national level, Cenargen. The conservation is being carried out through Conservation Nuclei, situated in the habitats where the animals have been subjected to natural selection (in situ), and by the storage of semen and embryos (ex situ). The recently created Animal Genetics Laboratory of Cenargen allowed genetic characterisation studies on cattle and horse breeds to begin, and, in the near future, work with asses, buffalo and sheep will be conducted‥ From the results of this research it will be possible to compare the native breeds and estimate genetic distances between them. The harmonisation of chosen micro-satellites with those which have been used in other Latin America and Iberian Peninsula countries will be extremely useful for comparative studies and will allow future exchange of germplasm between countries.

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Unbalanced historical phenotypic data from seed regeneration of a barley ex situ collection

Scientific Data ◽

10.1038/sdata.2018.278 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Maria Y. Gonzalez ◽

Stephan Weise ◽

Yusheng Zhao ◽

Norman Philipp ◽

Daniel Arend ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Resources ◽

Phenotypic Diversity ◽

Spring Barley ◽

Plant Genetic Resources ◽

Crop Improvement ◽

Model Organism ◽

Ex Situ ◽

Phenotypic Characterization ◽

Phenotypic Data ◽

Seed Regeneration

Abstract The scarce knowledge on phenotypic characterization restricts the usage of genetic diversity of plant genetic resources in research and breeding. We describe original and ready-to-use processed data for approximately 60% of ~22,000 barley accessions hosted at the Federal ex situ Genebank for Agricultural and Horticultural Plant Species. The dataset gathers records for three traits with agronomic relevance: flowering time, plant height and thousand grain weight. This information was collected for seven decades for winter and spring barley during the seed regeneration routine. The curated data represent a source for research on genetics and genomics of adaptive and yield related traits in cereals due to the importance of barley as model organism. This data could be used to predict the performance of non-phenotyped individuals in other collections through genomic prediction. Moreover, the dataset empowers the utilization of phenotypic diversity of genetic resources for crop improvement.

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International Coconut Genetic Resources Network (COGENT): Its history and achievements

CORD ◽

10.37833/cord.v21i02.408 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 21 (02) ◽

pp. 34

Author(s):

Pons Batugal

Keyword(s):

Latin America ◽

Genetic Resources ◽

International Development ◽

Agricultural Research ◽

Plant Genetic Resources ◽

In Situ Conservation ◽

Research Network ◽

Ex Situ

The International Coconut Genetic Resources Network (COGENT) is a global research network organized by the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) in 1992 with support from member countries, the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), partner institutions, donor agencies, and by regional and international development organizations. In the last 12 years, COGENT has been fully operational with 38 member coconut producing countries in five regions (South Asia; Southeast and East Asia; South Pacific; Africa and the Indian Ocean; and Latin America and the Caribbean). It has successfully developed and disseminated to coconut breeders and curators worldwide the International Coconut Genetic Resources Database (CGRD). The CGRD contains characterization data and some pictures of 1,416 accessions which are conserved by national programmes in 28 sites in 23 countries. To further secure conserved germplasm, a COGENT multi-site International Coconut Genebank has been established to conserve 200 important accessions in each region. Coconut varieties with multi-purpose uses are being identified, documented and promoted. The performance of promising 38 high-yielding hybrids are being evaluated in a multilocation trial involving four African and three Latin America/Caribbean countries to identify suitable varieties and hybrids for resource-poor farmers. Farmers’ varietal preferences in 15 countries are being evaluated. Diversity-linked income-generating activities are being used as a strategy to promote in situ and on-farm conservation and germplasm utilization have been initiated in 15 countries. Protocols for in vitro embryo culture, cryopreservation, morphometric and molecular marker-based methods for locating and characterizing diversity; pest risk assessment and germplasm health management are being developed, tested and upgraded. Strategies and techniques for farmer participatory research, collecting, characterization and ex situ and in situ conservation are being refined. To strengthen the coconut research capability of COGENT member countries, the COGENT Secretariat and IPGRI have organized 39 country need assessment missions and conducted 41 workshops and meetings involving 994 coconut researchers to share information and technologies, discuss issues and common problems and opportunities and how to address them; conducted 40 training courses involving 765 participants from 41 countries; supported 274 research and training/capacity building activities in 30 countries; and led the establishment of the Global Coconut Research for Development Programme (PROCORD). IPGRI and COGENT's current priority involves the further promotion of more effective conservation and use of coconut genetic resources, both regionally and globally.

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Management Status of Agricultural Plant Genetic Resources in Nepal

Agronomy Journal of Nepal ◽

10.3126/ajn.v4i0.15517 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. 75-91 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

M N Paudel ◽

B K Joshi ◽

K H Ghimire

Keyword(s):

Genetic Resources ◽

Agricultural Research ◽

Plant Genetic Resources ◽

Tissue Bank ◽

Nutritional Security ◽

Agricultural Plant ◽

Recalcitrant Seed ◽

Agricultural Research Council ◽

The World ◽

Food And Nutritional Security

Agricultural plant genetic resources (APGRs) are one of the pivotal sources for developing high yielding, stress tolerance varieties to sustain food and nutritional security of the world. Nepal has established National Agriculture Genetic Resource Centre (NAGRC), alias Genebank under the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) in Khumaltar premise in 2010 AD (2066 BS). NAGRC has been doing collection, identification, characterization, and regeneration of APGRs since its establishment. There are more than 11000 collections of APGRs in the Genebank. These accessions include cereals, pseudo cereals, pulses, oilseeds and vegetable of orthodox seed whereas crops having recalcitrant seed are conserved in the field Genebank, on-farm genebank and tissue bank. To analyze characters of new accessions, standard passport data are recorded and entered to accessions giving geographical locations and coordinates. The APGRs have been collected, cleaned, processed, preserved and regenerated and characterized according to the standard procedures and norms used by scientists across the world. Types of Genebank and options for effective management of APGRs in Nepal have explained in brief. This paper tries to explain the importance and management of APGRs with respect to sustain food and nutritional security of Nepal in coming days ahead.Agronomy Journal of Nepal (Agron JN) vol. 4, 2016, Page: 75-91

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Ex situ PLANT GERMPLASM CONSERVATION REVISED AT THE LIGHT OF MECHANISMS AND METHODS OF GENETICS

Journal of Basic and Applied Genetics ◽

10.35407/bag.2020.32.01.02 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 32 (Issue 1) ◽

pp. 11-24

Author(s):

E.L. Camadro ◽

P. Rimieri

Keyword(s):

Genetic Resources ◽

Higher Plants ◽

Plant Genetic Resources ◽

Genetic Material ◽

Germplasm Conservation ◽

Ex Situ ◽

Individual Plant ◽

Plant Germplasm ◽

The Individual ◽

Germplasm Banks

Plant genetic resources for food and agriculture are ex situ conserved in germplasm banks as samples (accessions) of natural or naturalized populations, either as the originally sampled propagules (mainly seeds) or their multiplications. The premises underlying ex situ conservation are that (a) it is the safest and cheapest alternative for germplasm preservation for future generations and (b) accessions are representative of the genetic diversity encountered in nature. In the past decades, ideas, alternatives and considerations have been put forward on the topic, and protocols have been devised for plant germplasm sampling, conservation and multiplication. However, limitations in the management efficiency of germplasm banks have been pointed out by international organizations. In our opinion, germplasm banks in general need to revise their functioning and management at the light of principles and methods of Genetics. To that end, it is necessary to consider the reproductive biology of higher plants -whose genetic consequences at both the individual plant and the population levels are not always either fully understood or taken into account in devising the protocols-, the genetic structures of wild and cultivated populations, and the course of the genetic material in the populations. In this paper, we discuss the three topics and provide an example of a national forage breeding program, from germplasm bank accessions as the germplasm of origin to the obtainment of commercial cultivars. Finally, we present a proposal as a base for discussion among curators, researchers and breeders. Key words: accessions, breeding, genetic resources, germplasm banks, population genetics

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Ex situ PLANT GERMPLASM CONSERVATION REVISED AT THE LIGHT OF MECHANISMS AND METHODS OF GENETICS

Journal of Basic and Applied Genetics ◽

10.35407/bag.2021.32.01.02 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 32 (Issue 1) ◽

pp. 11-24

Author(s):

E.L. Camadro ◽

P. Rimieri

Keyword(s):

Genetic Resources ◽

Higher Plants ◽

Plant Genetic Resources ◽

Genetic Material ◽

Germplasm Conservation ◽

Ex Situ ◽

Individual Plant ◽

Plant Germplasm ◽

The Individual ◽

Germplasm Banks

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Sequencing of wild crop relatives to support the conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources

Plant Genetic Resources ◽

10.1017/s1479262113000439 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 12 (S1) ◽

pp. S9-S11 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Robert J. Henry

Keyword(s):

Genetic Resources ◽

Plant Genetic Resources ◽

Crop Improvement ◽

Ex Situ ◽

Species Variation ◽

Whole Genome ◽

A Genome ◽

Wild Crop Relatives ◽

Specific Allele ◽

Crop Relatives

The re-sequencing of the genomes of wild crop relatives is a rapid method to determine the likely utility of the germplasm in crop improvement. The conservation of genetic resources both in situ and ex situ can be guided by information on the novelty of specific populations at the whole-genome and specific allele levels. The analysis of Australian wild relatives of rice, coffee, Macadamia and Eucalypts is being used to support crop improvement and enhance food and energy security. Rice populations that are novel sources of diversity in the A genome of rice have been characterized at the whole-genome level. This has demonstrated the novelty of these species and will support taxonomic revisions of the Oryza species. Variation in the genomes of plants from diverse environments defines strategies that might be employed to develop climate-resilient crop varieties. Eucalypt sequencing aims to support the selection of species and genotypes for use as new energy crops.

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