The European Ryegrass Core Collection: A Tool to Improve the Use of Genetic Resources

A core collection of 162 populations of ryegrass (Lolium perenne) native to 18 European countries, is being evaluated across Europe in a multi-country trial. Each participating country contributed the lesser of 10% or 25 accessions from its collection of native populations. The accessions are being grown at 18 sites in 17 countries. Quick, cheap protocols were developed for evaluation. Preliminary results are presented for performance during the first winter. Populations of northern origin showed uniformly low winter damage and low winter growth at all evaluation sites. Populations of Mediterranean origin were more affected by the environment used for evaluation, developing higher winter yield at sites with mild winters, lower winter yield where winters were colder, and suffering severe damage at sites with the coldest winters

CGIAR Operations under the Plant Treaty Framework

The history of CGIAR and the development and implementation of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (“Plant Treaty”) are closely intertwined. In accordance with the agreements that 11 CGIAR centers signed with the Plant Treaty’s Governing Body under Article 15 of the treaty, >730,000 accessions of crop, tree, and forage germplasm conserved in CGIAR genebanks are made available under the terms and conditions of the multilateral system of access and benefit sharing, and the CGIAR centers have transferred almost 4 million samples of plant genetic resources under the system. Many activities of CGIAR centers and their genebanks (e.g., crop enhancement, improved agronomic methods, seed system strengthening, and capacity building) are influenced by, and promote, the Plant Treaty’s objectives. The continued existence and optimal functioning of the Plant Treaty’s multilateral system of access and benefit sharing is critically important to CGIAR in the pursuit of its mission. However, the multilateral system has encountered some challenges since the Plant Treaty came into force. The successful conclusion of the ongoing process for enhancing the functioning of the multilateral system could increase monetary benefit sharing and incentives for exchanging more germplasm. In the meantime, increased efforts are necessary to promote nonmonetary benefit sharing through partnerships, technology transfer, information exchange, and capacity building. These efforts should be integrated into countries’ and organizations’ work to implement the Plant Treaty’s provisions on conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources, and farmers’ rights

CGIAR genebank viability data reveal inconsistencies in seed collection management

Genebanks underpin global food security, conserving and distributing agrobiodiversity for use in research and breeding. The CGIAR collections include >700,000 seed accessions, held in trust as global public goods. However, the role of genebanks in contributing to global food security can only be realized if collections are effectively managed. Examination of the historical viability monitoring data from seven CGIAR genebanks confirmed that high seed viability was maintained for many decades for the various crops and forage species. However, departures from optimum management procedures were revealed, and there were insufficient data gathered to derive reliable estimates of longevity needed to better forecast regeneration requirements, estimate the size of seed lots that should be stored, and optimize accession monitoring intervals

Chemical and molecular characterization of fragrance in Black Glutinous Rice from Lao PDR

Fifty three accessions of lowland Black Glutinous Rice (BGR) and three white rice varieties from Lao PDR were evaluated for variations in 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2-AP), a main aroma compound present in fragrant rice and a 257 bp genomic fragment associated with a gene encoding 2-AP. The objective of this study was to characterize the variation in aromatic characters of Lao BGR by using chemical and molecular techniques. Thirty six out of the 56 accessions had aromatic properties, containing 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2-AP). The concentrations of 2-AP in unpolished samples were about 50% higher than those of the polished samples. The concentrations of 2-AP in BGR accessions were lower than those of white aromatic rice varieties in which 2-AP was highest in Kai Noi Leuang (0.688 ppm). Seventeen accessions and two of white rice (Kai Noi Leuang and TDK5) had a common 355 bp allele corresponding to that found in Calrose, a non-fragrant variety. A 257 bp allele was found in the 36 varieties of BGR and a local aromatic white rice variety, Hom Nang Nouan, sharing a common allele as in the fragrant variety KDML 105. Surprisingly, Kai Noi Leuang, a popular Lao local aromatic rice variety with the highest 2-AP concentration did not possess a 257 bp fragment which has been identified previously as a fragrant allele. This is the first study of the chemical and molecular aromatic properties of lowland BGR varieties of the Lao PDR and the data obtained will be valuable in screening other germplasm and in planning a breeding program in the country geared towards fragrant rices with superior agronomic properties

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Not AvailableWe evaluated the use of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers to distinguish genotypes, populations and species of Lolium. Accessions of two species Lolium perenne and Lolium multiflorum and their hybrid Lolium hybridum , collected by the Institute of Grass and Environmental Research in 1995 from locations across Portugal, were used. The genetic variation within and between populations from the extremes of latitude and altitude was determined and assessed. Three primer pair combinations generated 765 polymorphic bands. Principal coordinate analysis of similarities between 127 plants showed high dimensionality in the data. Axes 1–3 were associated primarily with species differences, axes 4–14 with population differences within species and axis 15 onwards with within population differences. UPGMA analysis confirmed the groupings. The three populations of L. perenne formed a discrete cluster widely separated from all other populations. There were two distinct groups of L. hybridum , of which one was similar to and overlapped with L. multiflorum and the second formed a distinct cluster. Analyses of individual bands showed that every inter- and intraspecific contrast involved a different sets of bands, again confirming the high dimensionality of the data. No single band was strictly diagnostic of any population or species. Nevertheless, the UPGMA analysis showed little or no overlap between populations. Thus, despite the high ratio of within-to-between population genetic variance, the full AFLP banding pattern of each genotype is a relatively reliable fingerprint diagnostic of its parent population. The high dimensionality implies that many different factors contribute to the differences observed. This adds to the potential value of the methodology, since it implies that there is a reasonably high likelihood of finding bands relevant to a given environmental gradient or other factor influencing the distribution of genetic diversityNot Availabl