Questions and Answers
What is a characteristic of a part of a plant that can be used for propagation?
Capability of regenerating a new whole plant of the same species
What is the primary aim of germplasm conservation?
To preserve, manage, and use genetic resources to benefit present and future generations.
What are the two main reasons for conserving genetic resources?
To ameliorate genetic restriction and erosion, and to prevent extinction of species and populations.
What is extinction, according to Frankel and Soule (1981)?
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What are biotic factors that contribute to extinction?
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What is an example of an abiotic factor that contributes to extinction?
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What was adopted in 2013 related to forest genetic resources?
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What is the consequence of genetic restriction and erosion?
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What is the significance of germplasm conservation in maintaining biodiversity?
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What are the components of Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (GRFA)?
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What is a genetic resource?
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What is a biological resource?
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What is biological diversity?
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What is a land race?
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What are the characteristics of a land race according to Camacho Villa (2006)?
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What is the significance of land races in agriculture?
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What are the three main methods of ex situ conservation?
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What type of crops are typically conserved in field genebanks?
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What is the purpose of using the same propagation techniques as farmers in field genebanks?
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What can happen within and between accessions in field genebanks?
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What is the advantage of conserving material in field genebanks?
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What is an example of a crop that is conserved in a field genebank?
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How are field genebanks typically managed?
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What is the estimated number of distinct seed samples of agricultural crops thought to exist?
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What can be included in a genebank with the advent of biotechnology?
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What is the capacity of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault?
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What is the term used to describe the arrangement in which ownership of seed samples remains with the depositor?
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Who must researchers and plant breeders request seed samples from?
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What is a potential advantage of pollen storage over seed storage?
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What is a disadvantage of pollen storage compared to seed storage?
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What is the significance of DNA storage in germplasm conservation?
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What is the purpose of the Deposit Agreement signed by depositors with NordGen?
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What is the significance of home gardens in conserving biodiversity?
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What is the principal objective of in vitro storage schemes?
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What is cryopreservation, and how does it aid in long-term in vitro storage?
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What are some advantages of conserving germplasm as seeds?
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What are some limitations to conserving seeds?
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How do traditional farming systems contribute to the conservation of biodiversity?
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What is the significance of including a community of gardens in in situ conservation?
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Why is long-term in vitro storage important for germplasm conservation?
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Study Notes
Global Plan of Action for Forest Genetic Resources
- The FAO Global Plan of Action for Conservation, Sustainable Use and Development of Forest Genetic Resources was adopted in 2013.
Definitions in Plant Conservation
- Genetic resources for food and agriculture (GRFA) include plant, animal, aquatic, microbial, forest, and other genetic resources of relevance to agriculture, farming, and food systems.
- A genetic resource is any material of plant, animal, microbial, or other origin containing functional units of heredity, that is of actual or potential value.
- A biological resource is all organisms or parts thereof, populations, or any other biotic component of ecosystems with actual or potential use or value for humanity.
- Biological diversity refers to the variability among organisms from all sources, including terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part, including the diversity within and between species and ecosystems.
Land Race
- A land race is a domesticated and adapted plant variety that has developed over many years through simple selection processes by farmers, and has a wide spectrum of quality traits.
- Land races may be low-yielding but highly stable in their cultural environment and have local names and distinguishing features.
- A land race can also be defined as a dynamic population of a cultivated plant that has historical origin, distinct identity, and lacks formal crop improvement, and is often genetically diverse, locally adapted, and associated with traditional farming systems.
Germplasm Conservation
- Germplasm conservation is the preservation, management, and use of genetic resources so that they may yield the greatest sustainable benefit to the present generation, while maintaining their potential to meet the needs and aspirations of future generations.
- An alternative definition of germplasm conservation is the formulation of policies and programs which will allow the long-term preservation of genetic resources either in situ or ex situ in such a manner that the potential for continuing evolution or improvement would be sustained.
Importance of Conservation
- Germplasm conservation is important to ameliorate genetic restriction and erosion that accompany domestication and cultivar development.
- It is also important to prevent the extinction of species and populations.
The Process of Extinction
- Extinction occurs when a species or population fails to maintain itself through reproduction.
- It is a process rather than an event and can be caused by ecological factors such as competition, predation, parasitism, and disease, as well as abiotic factors like habitat alteration and isolation.
Factors Contributing to Extinction
- Ecological factors contributing to extinction include biotic factors like competition, predation, parasitism, and disease, as well as abiotic factors like habitat alteration and isolation.
- Abiotic factors also include habitat destruction, climate change, and pollution.
In-Situ Conservation
- In-situ conservation involves the conservation of genetic resources in their natural habitats or in the form of traditional farming systems.
- It has limitations, including the risk of losing germplasm due to environmental hazards and the high cost of maintenance.
Ex-Situ Methods
- Ex-situ conservation involves the conservation of genetic resources outside their natural habitats or in controlled environments.
- Ex-situ methods include field gene banks, seed banks, and in vitro conservation.
Field Genebanks
- Field gene banks are used for the conservation of clonal crops, recalcitrant seeds, and crops that rarely produce seeds.
- They are also used for the conservation of crops like tropical fruit trees, cocoa, rubber, oil palm, coffee, banana, and coconut, as well as root and tuber crops.
- The rule of thumb is to use the same propagation techniques as the farmer, and some natural selection may take place within and between accessions.
Seed Banks
- Seed banks are used for the conservation of seeds from agricultural crops.
- There are approximately 1.5 million distinct seed samples of agricultural crops in existence.
- The Svalbard Global Seed Vault has a capacity for 4.5 million samples and is designed to store seeds at a temperature of -18°C.
Pollen Storage
- Pollen storage is an alternative method of conservation that involves the storage of pollen from plants.
- It has advantages, including the ability to store pollen at low temperatures and the ability to regenerate plants from pollen.
- However, pollen storage also has disadvantages, including the limited life span of pollen, the inability to conserve organelle genomes, and the loss of sex-linked genes in dioecious species.
DNA Storage
- DNA storage is a relatively new method of conservation that involves the storage of DNA from plants.
- It has advantages, including the ability to store DNA in a compact form and the ability to regenerate plants from DNA.
- DNA storage is increasing in importance and is being used to conserve genetic resources from traditional farming systems.
In-Situ Conservation: Home Gardens
- Home gardens are a reservoir of diversity for fruits, vegetables, and small domestic livestock.
- They allow for detailed selection of variants and the generation of vast morphological variation that exists in many domesticated species.
- A community of gardens may be needed to conserve genetic resources, as the intraspecific diversity within an individual garden is often limited, whereas the variation among gardens is often substantial.
Long-Term In Vitro Storage
- Long-term in vitro storage involves the storage of plant material in a sterile condition without compromising its genetic integrity.
- It is possible through cryopreservation, which involves the storage of biological living materials at ultra-low temperatures, usually using liquid nitrogen (-196°C).
- At this temperature, all cellular divisions and metabolic processes are virtually halted, allowing plant material to be stored without alteration or modification theoretically indefinitely.
Germplasm Conservation as Seeds
- Seeds are the most common and convenient form of conservation.
- They retain viability even under ambient conditions for a long time and occupy relatively small space.
- However, seeds have limitations, including the loss of viability with time and susceptibility to insect or pathogen attack.
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Description
Learn about the FAO's Global Plan of Action for the conservation and sustainable use of forest genetic resources, and understand key definitions in plant conservation.