Abstract
Genebanks play an important role in the long-term conservation of plant genetic resources and are complementary to the conservation of diversity in farmers’ fields and in nature. In this context, documentation plays a critical role. Without well-structured documentation, it is not possible to make statements about the value of a resource, especially with regard to its potential for breeding and research. In particular, comprehensive information management is a prerequisite for the further development of genebank collections. This requires detailed information about the composition of a collection, thus allowing statements about which species and/or regions of origin are under-represented. This task is of strategic importance, especially due to the threats to crop plants and their wild relatives caused by advancing climate change. Both the actual conservation management and the fulfilment of legal obligations depend on information. Hence, documentation units have been established in almost all genebanks worldwide. They all face the challenge that knowledge about genebank accessions must be permanently managed and passed on across generations. International standards such as Multi-Crop Passport Descriptors (MCPD) have been established for the exchange of data between genebanks, and allow the operation of international information systems, such as the World Information and Early Warning System on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (WIEWS), the European Search Catalogue for Plant Genetic Resources (EURISCO) or Genesys.
Highlights
For many centuries, humans have been taking advantage of the plant world and adapting it to their needs
Genebanks play an important role in the long-term conservation of these plant genetic resources [5]
The reporting obligations attached to the SMTA are usually part of the tasks of the documentation units of the genebanks
Summary
Humans have been taking advantage of the plant world and adapting it to their needs. Global biodiversity is severely threatened by human intervention, not the least against the background of advancing climate change [4] This applies to the diversity of crops. Genebanks play an important role in the long-term conservation of these plant genetic resources [5]. They complement the conservation of diversity in farmers’ fields and in nature. An important task of genebanks is the phenotypic characterisation of accessions [8] In this context, documentation plays a crucial role [9,10]. The development of documentation, the current situation and international cooperation as well as the specification of data for long-term and sustainable conservation management are described. The current needs for integrative information management based on several requirements for future genebank documentation are described
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
