Collecting Plant Genetic Resources Research Articles

Collecting plant genetic resources from south-eastern Ladakh, India

Collecting plant genetic resources from south-eastern Ladakh, India

Collecting Plant Genetic Resources from Gurez, An Underexplored Remote Valley of Jammu & Kashmir State of India

For the first time, systematic exploration and germplasm collection trips were conducted across Gurez Valley, a remote locality near Line of Control with Pakistan in Bandipore district of Jammu and Kashmir during 2015 and 2017. Almost all the villages up to Chakvali (Tulail) were surveyed. A total of 68 accessions belonging to 28 species including 34 accessions of wild germplasm were collected from altitudinal variation of 2403–3491 meters above sea level. Fagopyrum tataricum subsp. potanini and Crataegus pseudoheterophylla were collected for the first time, besides good variability in wheat, maize and common bean. Other significant collections included common and tartary buckwheat, hull-less barley, field pea, black cumin, caraway, and wild germplasm of Allium stracheyi, Elymus spp., Hippophae rhamnoides subsp. turkestanica and Malus baccata. Once a common crop, proso millet was seen cultivated only by a lone aged farmer in the entire tract, thus becoming almost an extinct crop in that area. This paper highlights information on the germplasm collected/observed, cultivation practices, genetic erosion and future exploration potential.

Palaeoecology and Gis Modeling Reveal Historic Grasslands as “Hotspots” of Biodiversity and Plant Genetic Resources

Traditionally managed meadows and pastures are increasingly abandoned or replaced with intensively cultivated arable fields in the UK and Europe. These habitats are important reservoirs of plants valued for their medicinal properties, cultural significance, and genetic diversity. Whether grassland biodiversity will persist without human management is currently unknown. Here, I combine palaeoecological data and modern vegetation surveys to determine the origin of species-rich grassland in Oxfordshire, England and long-term temporal and spatial changes in grassland biodiversity over time. I also examine whether forage crop wild relatives, a group of plant genetic resources, are dependent upon pastoral activities. In situ and ex situ conservation of crop wild relatives is increasingly important because they provide plant breeders with novel sources of genetic diversity to adapt crops to changing climate conditions. I demonstrate that species-rich grasslands only developed around 2000 years ago due to anthropogenic intervention and would revert to oscillating between open grassland and woodland without human management. Temporally and spatially, high levels of biodiversity are associated with the creation of species-rich grasslands. These areas are still hotspots of vegetation diversity today and wild relatives of forage grasses and legumes are closely linked to these areas. I argue that conservation activities should focus their attention on species-rich grasslands located in areas of long-term biodiversity, allowing other sites to revert, and that future research could focus on monitoring, characterizing, and collecting plant genetic resources from these sites.

Priority areas to collect germplasm ofMalacomeles(Rosaceae) in Mexico based on diversity and species richness indices

The genusMalacomeles(Decne.) G. N. Jones (RosaceaesubtribePyrinae) represents several fruit shrubs, which is mainly distributed in North and Central America, from southern USA to Honduras and Guatemala, although the main distribution of this genus is in Mexico. Five species of the genusMalacomeleshave been reported to exist in Mexico.Malacomelesis widely distributed in several mountainous ranges in Mexico, although it is unknown where most of the diversity of theMalacomelesgenus is located in the country. The aim of this biogeographic study was to determine the areas of highest diversity of the genusMalacomelesin Mexico based on species richness and diversity indices in order to identify the best regions of Mexico to collect germplasm. The results indicated that most of the diversity of the genusMalacomelesis concentrated in northeast Mexico, mainly in the biogeographic province of Sierra Madre Oriental. In this province, the highest values on three biodiversity indices were found. Thus, this area can be considered as the priority area to collect the germplasm ofMalacomeles.M. denticulatais the predominant and the most interesting species in Mexico from the viewpoint of collecting plant genetic resources; this species is mainly distributed in the provinces of Trans-Mexican Volcanic Axis, Mexican Plateau and Sierra Madre del Sur, where secondary priority areas to collect germplasm are located.

Expedition to the south-western Hissar Mountains (Southern Uzbekistan) for collecting plant genetic resources in 1995

A joint exploring mission has been carried out by staff members of the Institute of Botany of the Uzbek Academy of Sciences, Taskent and the Institut fur Pflanzengenetik und Kulturpflanzenforschung, Gatersleben, in July/August 1995 to study plant genetic resources in a remote mountainous area of south-western Hissar, Uzbekistan. Subsistence farmers of the Tupalang basin are still growing a great number of landraces and local varieties, which could be investigated for the first time in that area. In total 238 accessions, mainly of cereals, vegetables, pulses, spices and medicinal plants, were collected. Of special interest has been indigenous material of wheat, barley, turnip, chickpea, pea, lentil, small-seeded linseed as well as some wild spices and medicinal plants.

Collecting plant-genetic resources in Georgia (South Ossetia, Dzhavakheti) 1990

Collecting plant-genetic resources in Georgia (South Ossetia, Dzhavakheti) 1990

Collecting plant genetic resources in Cuba. Report on the fourth mission, March 1989

Collecting plant genetic resources in Cuba. Report on the fourth mission, March 1989

Collecting plant-genetic resources in the Georgian SSR (Kartli, Meskheti) 1989

In september of 1989 a ninth joint mission has been organized to study indigenous material of cultivated plants in Georgia which went in Central and Southern Georgia to the historical provinces of Kartli (Lower and Inner Kartli) and to Meskheti. Structural changes of the agricultural production (and enforced population movements) in the last decades caused a drastic decrease of the species spectrum of the cultivated flora and of the former infraspecific variability of most of the crops. This is especially true for the cereals (less so for maize), however fromTriticum dicoccon as well as fromT. durum could still be collected one accession each. Almost half of the total collection (222 accessions) consists of grain legumes, mostly garden beans, from which a fairly great number of seed variants had been observed. Some further examples of the accessions have been described in detail. Archaeological remains of cultivated plants could be examined in different institutions and actual excavation places.

Сбор растительно-ген етических ресурсов в Грузииской ССР в 1988 году (Кахетия)

In continuation of recent collecting activities in the Georgian SSR a further mission has been carried out jointly by staff members of the Institute of Botany Tbilissi and the Central Institute for Genetics and Cultivated Plant Research, Gatersleben, in September 1988 for exploration and collecting plant genetic resources. The travel route covered in this year Kachetia (Eastern Georgia), including the Civi-Gomborskij range of Great Caucasus and the foothills of the main ridge bordering the Alazani and Iori river valleys. 318 samples, mainly of grain legumes, vegetables, spice plants and maize could be collected. The material represents variable land-races and indigenous taxa of cultivated plants from this area, which have been listed and characterized shortly for some examples.

Collecting plant genetic resources in Cuba. report of the third mission, March 1988

Report is given about the fourth joint mission INIFAT-ZIGuK to the provinces of Guantanamo and Santiago de Cuba in March 1989, within the agreement between the Academy of Sciences of Cuba and the Academy of Sciences of the German Democratic Republic. The area explored was rich in plant genetic resources. Agriculture is often still practiced in a traditional way, and it was possible to show the influence of different ethnic groups. A total of 238 accessions of vegetables, pulses and other species was collected. A great variation was found inPhaseolus lunatus L. andVigna species. Old cultivars of maize and pumpkins were collected. Valuable information about the use of different plants in folk medicine could be gathered.

Collecting plant genetic resources in Cuba. Report on the second mission, 1986

Report is given on the second joint mission in Eastern parts of Cuba in December 1986 within the agreement between the Academy of Sciences of Cuba and the Academy of Sciences of the German Democratic Republic. The collecting area proved to be rich in plant genetic resources. Altogether 201 accessions of vegetables, pulses, cereals and other crops were collected. Again, a remarkable diversity was found inCapsicum andPhascolus but also in other crops asVigna and some Cucurbitaceae.

Collection of plant genetic resources in Italy, 1987

After finishing a six years' program for exploring and collecting plant genetic resources in South Italy in 1986, these activities were extended to central parts of the country in September 1987 jointly by staff members of the Istituto del Germoplasma, Bari, and the Zentralinstitut fur Genetik und Kulturpflanzenforschung, Gatersleben. A major part of the Abruzzi area has been covered. 165 samples, mainly of cereals, grain legumes and vegetables, could be collected. This material represents variable land-races. Two accessions ofTriticum dicoccon are especially worth mentioning.

Collecting plant-genetic resources in the Georgian SSR (Chevsuretia, Tushetia) 1987

In August of 1987 a seventh joint mission has been organized for collecting indigenous material of cultivated plants which went to remote mountainous areas beyond the main ridge of Great Caucasus into the historical provinces of Chevsuretia and Tushetia. Since some decades drastic gene-erosion had happened caused by the extreme decrease of crop cultivation in these areas. Thus the collected material represents only a small fraction of the former diversity of local crop races. The collection although of small size (75 accessions, among them 30 cereal, 23 legume and 22 vegetable and other crop samples) is of special importance because it represents highly endangered varieties. Other taxa formerly widely cultivated in these regions disappeared already completely (e.g.Triticum carthlicum, Vicia faba, Linum usitatissimum). Some examples of the collection have been characterized in detail.

Collection of plant genetic resources in South Italy, 1986

In continuation of collecting activities in the last six years a further mission has been carried out in South Italy jointly by staff members of the Istituto del Germoplasma, Bari, and the Zentralinstitut fur Genetik und Kulturpflanzenforschung, Gatersleben, in September 1986 for exploring and collecting plant genetic resources. In this year South-eastern parts of Calabria and the Isole Egadi have been covered. 90 samples, mainly of vegetables, grain legumes and some cereals, could be collected. The material represents variable land-races and wild relatives of crop plants. From the last groupBrassica, Beta and some wild cereals, asSecale, Aegilops andDasypyrum, should be mentioned. With this mission the exploration of South Italy is nearly completed. Further activities will concentrate to some selected regions.

Collecting plant genetic resources in Cuba

After a short introduction into recent collecting activities in Cuba information is provided concerning the joint expedition of the Instituto de Investigaciones Fundamentales en Agricultura Tropical and the Zentralinstitut fur Genetik und Kulturpflanzenforschung in the province of Holguin, Eastern Cuba, in February 1986 within the agreement between the Academy of Sciences of Cuba and the Academy of Sciences of the German Democratic Republic. Altogether 249 accessions of vegetables, pulses, cereals and other crops were collected. A remarkable diversity was found inCapsicum andPhaseolus. The material collected is important for breeding purposes.

Collection of land-races of cultivated plants in South Italy, 1985

In continuation of collecting missions in the last five years a further mission has been carried out in South Italy jointly by staff members of the Istituto del Germoplasma, Bari, and the Zentralinstitut fur Genetik und Kulturpflanzenforschung, Gatersleben, in September/October 1985 for studying and collecting plant genetic resources. In this year the activities have been concentrated on Sicily. 225 samples, mainly of vegetables, grain legumes and some cereals have been collected. A good part of the material is represented by highly variable old land-races; this is especially true for oats, barley, maize, french beans, faba beans,Brassica spp. and many other vegetables. Whereas genetic erosion is rather advanced in cereals, especially in wheat, land-races of many species of vegetables are grown on a large scale. The results of this mission increase our knowledge concerning the flora of cultivated plants of South Italy considerably.