Optimization of the composition of crop collections for ex situ conservation

Many crop genetic resources collections have been established without a clearly defined conservation goal or mandate, which has resulted in collections of considerable size, unbalanced composition and high levels of duplication. Attempts to improve the composition of collections are hampered by the fact that conceptual views to optimize collection composition are very rare. An optimization strategy is proposed herein, which largely builds on the concepts of core collection and core selection. The proposed strategy relies on hierarchically structuring the crop gene pool and assigning a relative importance to each of its different components. Comparison of the resulting optimized distribution of the number of accessions with the actual distribution allows identification of under- and over-representation within a collection. Application of this strategy is illustrated by an example using potato. The proposed optimization strategy is applicable not only to individual genebanks, but also to consortia of cooperating genebanks, which makes it relevant for ongoing activities within projects that aim at sharing responsibilities among institutions on the basis of rational conservation, such as a European genebank integrated system and the global cacao genetic resources network CacaoNet

The systematic description of cacao clones and its significance for taxonomy and plant breeding

The value of germplasm collections depends to a large extent on the data accompanying the individual accessions. In order to facilitate the selection of the most useful characters for the systematic description of a cacao germplasm collection methods were developed to measure and to compare the discriminative values of both qualitative and quantitative characters. The relationships between cacao clones were studied as it was expected that they would influence the value of the discriminatory power of a given character for a given group of clones and some conclusions with regard to breeding of cacao were developed from the study of the relationships between characters.The mode of inheritance of some qualitative and quantitative characters was studied using the data of a complete diallel cross, in order to determine the relationship between the discriminative value of a character and its inheritance. Although such a relationship could not be established there were strong indications that the qualitative characters examined follow tetraploid rather than diploid inheritance. Following the results and based on progeny testing and clonal propagation a breeding method was proposed for a more efficient utilization of cacao germplasm.Classical taxonomic classifications were proven to be useful. However, to enable correct identification of cacao clones in a germplasm collection it was felt advisable to propose a new classification

A guide to effective management of germplasm collections

The initiative to bring experts together to discuss the consequences of changes in the roles and responsibilities of genebanks led to this publication. It is hopes that the ideas put forward lead to more critical balanced and creative approach towards genebank operations on the part of genebank curators worldwide. It is also hoped that decisions concerning concepts and strategies that have been or will be made at the institutional and national level on the conservation and use of plant genetic resources will be made easier by this publication. Genebank are encouraged to share their experiences through all means of communication. The reader is kindly invited to provide IPGRI with any comments or suggestions on the current text that would contribute to more effective and efficient conservation and thereby assist in the generation of a solid knowledge base for genebank management

Guía para el manejo eficaz de un banco de germoplasma:

Los Manuales de Bioversity para Bancos de Germoplasma se han concebido para proporcionar información práctica a los curadores de los bancos y a otro personal que trabaja en ellos. El presente manual es una traducción de la versión original publicada en inglés en 2003. Este manual no pretende ser una guía estricta para el manejo de un banco de germoplasma en tanto las guías corren el riesgo de ser contraproducentes porque se basan en condiciones que rara vez se encuentran en la vida real. El manejo de un banco de germoplasma requiere decisiones creativas y adaptaciones a condiciones de funcionamiento específicas aunque cambiantes. El objetivo de esta publicación es suministrar al lector ideas, alternativas y consideraciones que le ayuden a desarrollar estrategias coherentes y eficaces para manejar bancos de germoplasma. Se analizan, en particular, elementos importantes del manejo tanto del banco como de las colecciones; se discuten las opciones que darían el manejo más eficiente y más eficaz en función de los costos, y se infieren algunas implicaciones genéticas y económicas. Se espera que esto conduzca a la racionalización de las operaciones de los bancos de germoplasma bajo diversas condiciones económicas, teniendo en cuenta las diferentes políticas de los gobiernos y otros factores importantes. Se espera también que esta información, junto con los ejemplos que muestran cómo diversos bancos de germoplasma han resuelto sus problemas de manejo, ayude al lector a tomar decisiones informadas sobre qué estrategias resultan apropiadas para manejar el germoplasma. Los editores reciben con beneplácito la impresión de los lectores sobre el contenido y el formato del manual, con miras a una possible revisión futura

IBPGR's new concept for the conservation and utilization of germplasm : global crop networks

In IDL-353