Germplasm collections – a prerequisite for plant genetics and breeding

Börner A.*1, Nagel M.1, Tarawneh, R.1, Lohwasser U.1, Rehman Arif M.A.1,2, Alqudah A.M.1

1** Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Gatersleben, Germany.

2** Nuclear Institute of Agriculture and Biology (NIAB), Faisalabad, Pakistan.

*boerner@ipk-gatersleben.de

Abstract

Plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) play a major role for global food security. The most significant and widespread mean of conserving PGRFA is ex situ conservation. Most conserved accessions are kept in specialized facilities known as genebanks maintained by public or private institutions. World-wide 7.4 million accessions are stored in about 1,750 ex situ genebanks. Plant ex situ genebank collections comprise seed genebanks, field genebanks as well as in vitro and cryo collections. Species whose seed can be dried, without damage, down to low moisture contents can be conserved in specially designed cold stores. Such “orthodox” seeds can be expected to maintain a high level of vigour and viability for decades. Field genebanks, in vitro and cryo storage are used primarily for species which are either vegetatively propagated or which have non-orthodox seeds that cannot be dried and stored for long periods. In addition, perennial species, for example certain forage species, which produce small quantities of seed, and long-lived plants are also maintained this way. It is estimated that worldwide, less than 10% of genebank holdings are stored in vivo in the field, and less than 1% are conserved in vitro/cryo. Clearly, seed storage is the predominant mode of plant genetic resources conservation. With a total inventory of 150,000 accessions from 3,212 plant species and 776 genera, the ‘Federal ex situ Genebank of Germany’ in Gatersleben holds one of the most comprehensive collections worldwide. It comprises wild and primitive forms, landraces as well as old and more recent cultivars of mainly cereals but also other crops. Starting in the 1920’s material was accumulated systematically. Seed storage is managed in large cold chambers at -18°C.  Seeds are kept in glass jars, covered with bags containing silica gel (active collection) and in aluminum bags under vacuum (base collection). During recent years accessions have been extensively used for genetic studies on various traits, e.g., seed longevity or agronomic and abiotic stress traits mainly in cereals (wheat and barley). Here, we will present several examples on the utilization of germplasm collections for genetic analysis and molecular mapping. 

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Keywords: plant genetic resources, genetic mapping, seed longevity, abiotic stress