GERMPLASM CONSERVATION AND USE OF GENEBANKS FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES OF TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL FRUITS IN BRAZIL

Abstract

Fruit crop is an important industry Brazil, being one of the first fruit production the world. Brazil is also one of the most important centers of genetic diversity for several important tropical fruits. The Brazilian plant genetic resources conservation model is composed by a National Genetic Resources and Biotechnology Research Center - CENARGEN, Brasilia-DF, and a network of genebanks spread out over the country's Research Units, Universities and State Institutions. CENARGEN is one of the 39 Research Units of the Brazilian Agriculture Research Corporation (EMBRAPA). At EMBRAPA the conservation of tropical and subtropical fruits genetic resources comprise 24 field genebanks. Along with several other germplasm collections this system has about 300 species and more than 10000 accessions under conservation, including duplications. All materials are maintained the field, except a small collection of banana and pineapple germplasm which is maintained in vitro. Brazil has a strong collecting program for native species, such as pineapple, cashew and passion-fruit, and for exotic species, such as banana, mango and citrus a good exchange program is maintained. Morphological and molecular characterization, and evaluation of the most important tropical and subtropical fruit germplasm is progress the active genebanks and at Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotecnology Research Center. The germplasm documentation has been updated through a national information system named Brazilian Genetic Resources Information System - SIBRARGEN. Tropical and subtropical fruits genetic resources, such as pineapple, banana, citrus, mango and cashew are being used breeding programs and correlated research. In this paper, the number of accessions per species, and the location where the collections are maintained are presented as well as other important data on conservation of tropical and subtropical fruits are discussed.