Advanced genebank management of genetic resources of European wild apple, Malus sylvestris, using genome-wide SNP array data

The Netherlands’ field genebank collection of European wild apple (Malus sylvestris), consisting of 115 accessions, was studied in order to determine whether duplicates and mistakes had been introduced, and to develop a strategy to optimize the planting design of the collection as a seed orchard. We used the apple 20K Infinium single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array, developed in M. domestica, for the first time for genotyping in M. sylvestris. We could readily detect the clonal copies and unexpected duplicates. Thirty-two M. sylvestris accessions (29%) showed a close genetic relationship (parent-child, full-sib, or half-sib) to another accession, which reflects the small effective population size of the in situ populations. Traces of introgression from M. domestica were only found in 7 individuals. This indicates that pollination preferentially took place among the M. sylvestris trees. We conclude that the collection can be considered as mainly pure M. sylvestris accessions. The results imply that it should be managed as one unit when used for seed production. A bias in allele frequencies in the seeds may be prevented by not harvesting all accessions with a close genetic relationship to the others in the seed orchard. We discuss the value of using the SNP array to elaborate the M. sylvestris genetic resources more in depth, including for phasing the markers in a subset of the accessions, as a first step towards genetic resources management at the level of haplotypes.

Comparison of structure analyses and core collections for the management of walnut genetic resources

The preservation of maximum diversity within the smallest number of accessions is one of the challenges of germplasm management, and the assessment of the population structure, the relationships between the accessions, and the construction of core collections are the key steps. The choice of suitable molecular markers is often the starting point. In this study, we analyzed a part of the INRAE walnut germplasm collection, which is highly diverse and unique in Europe, consisting of 150 accessions from American, European, and Asian continents. Based on genotypic data already available, using 13 SSRs or 364,275 SNPs, we showed that the first level of structure is detected equally. We also highlighted empirically that approximately 100 SNPs are needed to obtain similar clustering to 13 SSRs in Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA). We constructed eight core collections following two strategies (percentage of total allelic diversity or number of accessions) and two construction methods based on different algorithms (“maximum length subtree” and “entry-to-nearest-entry” methods). We showed that core collections based on few SSR markers are able to capture at least 99.5% of the SNP allelic diversity, irrespective of the construction method used. Then, core collections based on each marker type are highly similar, using both construction methods. All these steps are crucial to identify the suitable tools and methods to improve plant genetic resources management.

Global status of genetic resources for food and agriculture: challenges and research needs

Plant, animal, forest, aquatic, micro-organism and invertebrate genetic resources are vital to food security, nutrition, livelihoods and the resilience and adaptability of global agricultural production systems. Despite increasing efforts in recent years, much remains to be done to improve the management of these resources. Many are at risk of extinction or erosion and many have been overlooked in terms of use and development. There is an urgent need to address these deficiencies, both within the individual sectors of food and agriculture and in terms of how genetic resources management can be better integrated across sectors. These efforts will need to include action to address the multiple knowledge gaps that constrain improvements to management. They will also need to include the creation of policy and institutional frameworks that promote collaboration and stakeholder participation and allow sustainable management strategies to be implemented effectively at appropriate scales.

Fertility variation, seed collection and gene diversity in natural stands of Taurus cedar (Cedrus libani)

Background Seed stand is one of the important seed sources that is essential for global seed production programs. The primary objective of seed stands is to produce seeds as fast as possible. Characteristics of seed stand seeds depend mainly on stand quality, fertility variation and mating system. Individual fertility is an ability to produce progeny to next generation. Prediction of fertility variation is useful for seed production, genetic resources management and gene conservation. In this study, we report how to estimate fertility variation and gene diversity, and discuss its effect on the management of natural stands of Taurus cedar. Results Fertility variation and gene diversity were estimated based on the differences of strobilus production in female and male parents from three seed stands of Taurus cedar. A total of 50 trees were randomly chosen from each seed stand, and the female and male strobili were counted for three consecutive years. The coefficients of variation for female and male strobilus production were subjected to estimation female and male fertility variation. The total fertility variation (Ψ) was then estimated from the female and male fertility variation. The effective number of parents (Np) was calculated based on the Ψ. The mean of female strobili ranged from 31 to 150, and that of male strobili ranged between 77 and 828. The Ψ in a good crop year was smaller than in a poor year and the Np varied from 34.7 to 44.2. The Ψ was improved and the Np was increased when strobilus productions were pooled across three years or populations. The equal cone harvest could mitigate the fertility variation among individuals but caused loss of seed production. Conclusions The effective number of parents could estimate gene diversity of seeds from natural stands, which was based on the function of correlated fertility variation between female and male parents. Mixing seeds from different years could improve the fertility variation among individuals and increase the gene diversity of seeds. However, a balancing between the effective number of parents and the number of mixed years or populations should be carefully considered for maintaining the gene diversity.

Molecular Analysis of the Official Algerian Olive Collection Highlighted a Hotspot of Biodiversity in the Central Mediterranean Basin

Genetic diversity and population structure studies of local olive germplasm are important to safeguard biodiversity, for genetic resources management and to improve the knowledge on the distribution and evolution patterns of this species. In the present study Algerian olive germplasm was characterized using 16 nuclear (nuSSR) and six chloroplast (cpSSR) microsatellites. Algerian varieties, collected from the National Olive Germplasm Repository (ITAFV), 10 of which had never been genotyped before, were analyzed. Our results highlighted the presence of an exclusive genetic core represented by 13 cultivars located in a mountainous area in the North-East of Algeria, named Little Kabylie. Comparison with published datasets, representative of the Mediterranean genetic background, revealed that the most Algerian varieties showed affinity with Central and Eastern Mediterranean cultivars. Interestingly, cpSSR phylogenetic analysis supported results from nuSSRs, highlighting similarities between Algerian germplasm and wild olives from Greece, Italy, Spain and Morocco. This study sheds light on the genetic relationship of Algerian and Mediterranean olive germplasm suggesting possible events of secondary domestication and/or crossing and hybridization across the Mediterranean area. Our findings revealed a distinctive genetic background for cultivars from Little Kabylie and support the increasing awareness that North Africa represents a hotspot of diversity for crop varieties and crop wild relative species.

Embedding Cultivated Diversity in Society for Agro-Ecological Transition

Agroecology calls for a global approach, integrating scientific, practical, and advocacy dimensions, to redesign agricultural systems based on ecological and socio-cultural processes and emphasizing biodiversity. This review is grounded on the results of DIVERSIFOOD, a European H2020 multi-actor research project, and explores the concept of cultivated diversity using various dimensions relevant to foster sustainable organic food systems and agro-ecological transition. From the evaluation of underutilized genetic resources and forgotten crops, DIVERSIFOOD has proposed plant breeding strategies, on-farm experimentation, and statistical tools to create new populations, landraces, and organic cultivars with intra-varietal diversity. The added value of Community Seed Banks and forms of collective seed management in Europe have been described in terms of goals and activities, and their value for improving seed regulations, treaties, and genetic resources management is discussed. In the context of the current agro-food system characterized by standardization, DIVERSIFOOD raised awareness of qualities of ‘biodiverse food systems’ in which all actors have a role to play. It highlighted the critical capacity to preserve a diversity of cultural values embodied in ‘biodiverse products’, thereby involving consumers in collective strategies for reviving diversity, and empowering all actors of organic food systems to really and efficiently implement research within their farms and networks.

Assessment of coffee (coffea arabica L.) genetic erosion and genetic resources management in Ethiopia

Coffee is an important source of annual income and employment contributing significantly to the economies of many developing countries. Ethiopia is the center of origin and diversity of Coffea arabica L., there is immense genetic variability that offers great potential for improvement of the crop. The objective of this paper is to assess the status of Coffee genetic diversity, identify major factors that cause coffee genetic erosion and status of coffee genetics resources management in Ethiopia. The presences of high genetic diversity in wild Coffea arabica in Ethiopia were reported by different authors. However, the genetic diversity of coffea arabica L. are being lost rapidly due to several factors such as human population pressures leading to conversion of land to agriculture, deforestation and land degradation; low coffee prices leading to abandoning of coffee trees in forests and gardens and shifting cultivation to other more remunerative crops; and climate change. Additionally, narrow genetic basis of commercially used Arabica coffee cultivars and increased incidence of pests and diseases associated with climate change is leading to significant crop losses, threatening livelihoods in many coffee growing countries. Therefore, Conserving the wild Arabica coffee gene pool and its evolutionary potential present in Ethiopia is critically important for maintaining coffee yield, disease resistance, drought tolerant, quality and other important traits in future breeding program