Local Genetic Resources Research Articles

Genomic sovereignty or the enemy within

Genomic sovereignty is a concept that has become very popular among developing countries such as India, China, South Africa and Mexico. This concept is a response to developed countries that have taken advantage of those countries and researchers who don't have the means for protecting their own biogenetic resources. In this article we argue that genomic sovereignty is not about the others extracting and exploiting local human genetic resources, but developing and implementing the ethical, legal and administrative tools, based on transparency, openness and equal access to biological material, in order to build up a robust research networks. Being biological samples a scarce and valuable good, we conclude that controlling the access to this resource by means of the law, without a well implemented biobanking system and a clear scientific policy may lead to a situation where asymmetric relations are generated among research groups of the very same developing country. We would advice to those countries pretending to protect their biological samples and data from the outside, before developing laws against possible intrusions, they need to design strategies to promote equal and fair access to both resources paramount to biomedical research.

Access to and Benefit Sharing of Plant Genetic Resources: Novel Field Experiences to Inform Policy

A number of national and international policy processes are underway to allow for the development of sui generis systems to protect local natural and genetic resources and related knowledge about their management, use and maintenance. Despite agreements reached on paper at international and national levels, such as the Nagoya Protocol on access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from their use, and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, progress in implementation has been slow and in many countries, painful. Promising examples from the field could stimulate policy debates and inspire implementation processes. Case studies from China, Cuba, Honduras, Jordan, Nepal, Peru and Syria offer examples of novel access and benefit sharing practices of local and indigenous farming communities. The examples are linked to new partnership configurations of multiple stakeholders interested in supporting these communities. The effective and fair implementation of mechanisms supported by appropriate policies and laws will ultimately be the most important assessment factor of the success of any formal access and benefit sharing regime.

Successive Invasion-Mediated Interspecific Hybridizations and Population Structure in the Endangered Cichlid Oreochromis mossambicus

Hybridization between invasive and native species accounts among the major and pernicious threats to biodiversity. The Mozambique tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus, a widely used freshwater aquaculture species, is especially imperiled by this phenomenon since it is recognized by the IUCN as an endangered taxon due to genetic admixture with O. niloticus an invasive congeneric species. The Lower Limpopo and the intermittent Changane River (Mozambique) drain large wetlands of potentially great importance for conservation of O. mossambicus, but their populations have remained unstudied until today. Therefore we aimed (1) to estimate the autochthonous diversity and population structure among genetically pure O. mossambicus populations to provide a baseline for the conservation genetics of this endangered species, (2) to quantify and describe genetic variation of the invasive populations and investigate the most likely factors influencing their spread, (3) to identify O. mossambicus populations unaffected by hybridization. Bayesian assignment tests based on 423 AFLP loci and the distribution of 36 species-specific mitochondrial haplotypes both indicate a low frequency of invasive and hybrid genotypes throughout the system, but nevertheless reveal evidence for limited expansion of two alien species (O. niloticus and O. andersonii) and their hybrids in the Lower Limpopo. O. mossambicus populations with no traces of hybridization are identified. They exhibit a significant genetic structure. This contrasts with previously published estimates and provides rather promising auspices for the conservation of O. mossambicus. Especially, parts of the Upper Changane drainage and surrounding wetlands are identified as refugial zones for O. mossambicus populations. They should therefore receive high conservation priority and could represent valuable candidates for the development of aquaculture strains based on local genetic resources.

Comparing local and cosmopolitan cattle breeds on added values for milk and cheese production and their predicted methane emissions

The aim of this study was to compare added values for milk yield and predicted methane emissions of cows from local and cosmopolitan breeds reared in Italian circumstances. A number of studies showed that milk from local breeds is more suitable to be processed into cheese than that of cosmopolitan populations, so that the development of payment systems which account for the added values of milk destined to cheese production could support the conservation and valorization of local animal genetic resources. Also, the link of local breeds with traditions and the environment might partially compensate their low milk production. Breeders of Burlina, Reggiana, Rendena and Valdostana cows sell products in niche markets and they realize an extra added values per kg of milk of 66 percent, compared with Holstein Friesian. Market-oriented strategies to payment systems that include the added values of milk yield could enhance profitability and interest in rearing and safeguarding of local animal genetic resources; but, not all countries can apply these market strategies. Therefore, other alternative strategies to enrich the added values of milk production might be based on the differences in greenhouse gases emissions among breeds. Indeed, local animal genetic resources are expected reducing the greenhouse gases emissions because of their lowest metabolic body weight, respect to high selected animals. Individual methane emissions might be indirectly calculated using dry matter intake; the latter can be estimated using milk and fat production, and body weight. A reduction of 10 percent of daily methane emissions per kg of metabolic body weight is expected for local compared with cosmopolitan breeds. In average, no differences were found among local and cosmopolitan breeds in terms of daily methane emission per kg of milk yield. In conclusion, animal genetic resources needs to be evaluated not only per unit of output but for other direct and indirect units of output related to social and human returns.

Opportunities and Challenges in Use of Imported Livestock than Utilization of Local Animal Genetic Resources in Zimbabwe: a Review

This is a review paper that looks at opportunities and challenges of using imported livestock than utilization of local genetic resources such as cattle, sheep, goats, pig and poultry in Zimbabwe. Considerable debate on the exploitation of imported livestock than utilization of local genetic resources on livestock development has been going on since the last decades. The systems of livestock production are described and the roles of exotic and indigenous livestock are highlighted. The reports on livestock utilization tend to favor the use of exotic livestock for commercial production. However, it emerges that farmers acknowledge the wide differences in performance between exotic and indigenous livestock which should take into account the farming environment and level of management. The adverse environmental stresses may limit productivity in exotic livestock. The review paper therefore, concludes that exploitation of indigenous livestock must be related to define production and marketing environments, but also any genetic improvement should allow for likely future market demands.

English

After the outbreak of classical swine fever (CSF) in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, policy makers are expected to make decisions on the restocking of pigs. The objective of this study was to investigate farmers’ perceptions of CSF outbreak in coastal and inland communal production systems because of their differences in harbouring pathogens. Data were collected from 288 farmers in two CSF affected areas (one on the coast, one inland) and one unaffected coastal area. The majority of farmers in affected inland (73%) and coastal (89%) areas kept local pigs and non-descript crosses with imported pigs on backyard production system. Significantly, more pigs were culled in the affected coastal area than inland area. In both areas, the culling of pigs affected pork availability and income generation. Household heads that were residing on the farms that are educated, mature and located inland were less likely to experience disease challenges. To facilitate restocking and conservation of local pig genetic resources, farmers requested the government and stakeholders to assist with loans, breeding stock, proper housing structures and improved extension services. Farmers in both coastal and inland areas perceived CSF as destructive to pigs, thereby jeopardising their source of livelihoods.

Conservation and Management of a Threatened Traditional Agroresource, Ylang‐Ylang, in the Indian Ocean Islands

ABSTRACTTo handle future economic, social, and environmental changes, the assessment, management, and conservation of the local genetic resources of cash crop species is a fundamental requirement. We investigated the pattern of genetic and morphological diversity of ylang‐ylang [Cananga odorata (Lam.) Hook f. and Thomson forma genuina], an important essential oil tree in the introduction area of the western Indian Ocean islands. We sought to identify key elements for developing a conservation and management strategy for ylang‐ylang genetic resources. Genetic and morphological variations were assessed using amplified fragment length polymorphism and morphometrics traits. Information about farmers’ practices was collected. The existence of substantial total genetic diversity (HT = 0.2599) and the grouping of plantations into different genetic groups suggest a series of introduction events in the area, with limited exchanges of genetic material within and between islands. The morphological study revealed high phenotypic variability despite similar agronomical practices. The morphological and genetic variability might have been created and maintained without any planned management. This has determined the genetic structuring in the area (11.74% genetic variation among islands and 20.68% among plantations). On‐farm preservation and the maintenance of the current management practices are recommended. Ex situ conservation efforts should also be undertaken if economically affordable.

Disclosing the origin and diversity of Omani cattle

Among all livestock species, cattle have a prominent status as they have contributed greatly to the economy, nutrition and culture from the beginning of farming societies until the present time. The origins and diversity of local cattle breeds have been widely assessed. However, there are still some regions for which very little of their local genetic resources is known. The present work aimed to estimate the genetic diversity and the origins of Omani cattle. Located in the south-eastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula, close to the Near East, East Africa and the Indian subcontinent, the Sultanate of Oman occupies a key position, which may enable understanding cattle dispersal around the Indian Ocean. To disclose the origin of this cattle population, we used a set of 11 polymorphic microsatellites and 113 samples representing the European, African and Indian ancestry to compare with cattle from Oman. This study found a very heterogenic population with a markedly Bos indicus ancestry and with some degree of admixture with Bos taurus of African and Near East origin.

Backyard poultry in Kabylie (Algeria): from an indigenous chicken to a local poultry breed?

Backyard poultry is considered as a powerful tool for poverty alleviation. It is further promoted as a way of empowering women in communities where there is gender bias in poultry raising. The low-input systems involved are based on local breeds that are perfectly suited to their environment. However, socio-economic processes put local genetic resources under pressure, leading to the erosion of biodiversity. The present survey addresses this issue in the case of Kabylie, a mountainous coastal region of Algeria, through a survey conducted in 90 households raising poultry, a morpho-biometric description of 315 local chickens, and a performance evaluation of both growth and egg production in experimental semi-intensive conditions. The socio-economic profile of poultry smallholders in Kabylie reveals poor education and high diversification of agricultural assets and confirms gender bias in poultry keeping. The erosion of local genetic resources in chicken is found to be severe despite their cultural importance in Kabylie. From complementary surveys among experienced poultry keepers, the major original local type is postulated to consist of three varieties with black plumage (pure black, mottled and barred). The performance evaluation raised promising results, suggesting that exploiting the local breed could pursue some degree of improvement of low-input backyard systems. Finally, a strategy for a revival of the local breed through the support of the most involved smallholders is outlined in accordance with the information collected in the survey.

History of wheat breeding in Latvia

History of wheat breeding in Latvia A gene pool of Latvian winter and spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) has been created over a very long period, by collection, evaluation and selection of local genetic resources, and investigation of varieties and breeding lines from other countries in the world. It is not only a historical collection, but also serves as the foundation for research and plant breeding. National wheat germplasm is the framework for creating competitive winter and spring wheat varieties of grain with high yield, resistant to lodging and diseases, and quality acceptable for producers in the Baltic agroclimatical region. In Latvia, from 1920 to 1990, the selected wheat varieties were not stable pure lines, but mostly population varieties. After accession to UPOV (International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants), the requirements for new varieties have changed, and only distinct, uniform and stable varieties, characterised by high economical value are registered in Plant Catalogues. To implement wheat breeding programmes it is necessary to improve breeding methods by plant tissue culture and production of doubled haploids (DH). During 90 years, 16 winter and 11 spring wheat varieties of bread wheat (Tr. aestivum L.) have been created at Priekuļi and Stende and introduced in the market. The achievements of several generations of Latvian wheat breeders are reviewed in this paper.

STRATEGY FOR THE CONSERVATION OF FRENCH OLIVE GENETIC RESOURCES

ISHS XXVIII International Horticultural Congress on Science and Horticulture for People (IHC2010): Olive Trends Symposium - From the Olive Tree to Olive Oil: New Trends and Future Challenges STRATEGY FOR THE CONSERVATION OF FRENCH OLIVE GENETIC RESOURCES

Payments for agrobiodiversity conservation services for sustained on-farm utilization of plant and animal genetic resources

This paper discusses the potential application of Payment for Ecosystem Services-like schemes to tackle market failures associated with the public good characteristics of agrobiodiversity conservation services. So called payments for agrobiodiversity conservation services (PACS) would increase the private benefits from utilizing local plant and animal genetic resources on-farm through voluntary reward mechanisms, so as to sustain their on-farm conservation. Theoretical and applied insights about PACS are discussed and attention drawn to some of the challenges to be overcome in implementing PACS. In particular, these relate to the identification of potential buyers, the complex institutional setting in which PACS might operate and the articulation of a meaningful conservation goal based on a safe minimum standard approach. The latter is urgently needed, so as to ensure that additional agrobiodiversity services are generated. Relative to a fixed pricing approach, PACS schemes that seek to overcome information asymmetries through the use of conservation auctions may be associated with significant efficiency gains. However, potential trade-offs between ecological effectiveness, economic efficiency, and social equity considerations need to be carefully evaluated.

Genetic diversity analysis of an indigenous Chinese buffalo breed and hybrids based on microsatellite data

Chinese native buffaloes have faced the threat of extinction, along with an increase in crossbreeding with domesticated river buffaloes; consequently, conservation of local buffalo genetic resources has become a priority. A Chinese native breed, Jianghan, is often crossed intentionally and unintentionally with imported breeds from India and Pakistan, Murrah, and Nili-Ravi. A total of 128 buffaloes of the breeds Jianghan, Murrah, and Nili-Ravi and their presumed hybrid offspring were genotyped for 10 microsatellite markers. Heterozygosity and Wright's F-statistics were calculated to determine the genetic variation in those populations. The observed average heterozygosities ranged from 0.836 (Murrah) to 0.986 (Jianghan), higher than the expected heterozygosities and all the inbreeding values within the populations were negative. The genetic distances between the presumed hybrid buffaloes and the two imported river type dairy buffalo breeds (Murrah and Nili-Ravi) were lower than with the native Jianghan, indicating strong contributions of the imported breeds to this presumed hybrid buffalo population. This information will be useful for the development of rational breeding for the dairy buffalo industry and for conservation strategies for the Jianghan buffalo.

Ecological characterization of supina bluegrass (Poa supina Schrad.) germplasm from the Italian Alps

AbstractA collection was carried out in the Italian Alps to gather local genetic resources and acquire information on the ecological adaptation of supina bluegrass (Poa supina Schrad.), a cool‐season grass native to the Alpine region in Europe. It has potential for pastures and a growing interest for turfs, owing to excellent traffic, shade and cold tolerance. Available germplasm for research and breeding is scant, and extensive collections are needed to enable further development of adapted materials. Alpine germplasm has already proved valuable for breeding at lower altitude in pioneering selection work carried out in Germany. Extensive exploration throughout different environments, mostly above 1600 m elevation, yielded fifty‐five novel populations. Collections largely occurred in environments exposed to heavy disturbance by livestock, but it was also frequently found on very poor substrates along mountain paths and dirt roads, or around buildings. Some populations were present locally in shaded environments. Preliminary ex‐situ observations indicated likely among‐population variation to occur for important traits of breeding relevance such as disease and drought tolerance. Genetic variation for adaptive traits, although unproven, is hypothesized given the diversified habitats where the species was collected across the Italian Alps.

Characterization of Sardinian cork oak (Quercus suber L.) genetic resources for economically important traits

Considering the very high socio economic value of cork oak (Quercus suber L.) in Mediterranean areas, a better knowledge of local genetic resources is necessary in order to reach a good balance between the conservation issues and the need of an efficient cork production network. In such frame, local germplasm of Q. suber from the main cork production areas of Sardinia was analysed for DNA and isozyme polymorphisms and for cork quality in relation to some environmental parameters. A total number of 24 sample stands of cork oak were selected, representing typical vegetation, sylvicultural and cork quality features within the eight identified cork growing areas in Sardinia. Considerable variation was found between cork oak stands of the different areas. Results of the principal component analysis performed on the cork quality data and environmental characters of the eight areas, showed that the first three components explain 72.2% of the variation. The major characters involved in this differentiation were cork quality characters such as dimensional recover, moisture and Mg content of the cork and also elevation of stands m a.s.l. for the first component. The second component appears to be determined by some climatic parameters (average annual temperature and average of the minimum temperatures of coldest month) and by the Fe and Zn in the cork. For the third component, major characters involved in differentiation are average annual rainfall, bark thickness and Ca content in the cork.

DEVELOPING NEW PROMISING GALIA MELON F1 HYBRIDS BY UTILIZING SOME EGYPTIAN MELON GENETIC RESOURCES

Nine local races and ten introduced cultivars were selected basing on the stability for year around cultivation of available melon genetic resources. Those selected genetic resources were subjected to inbreeding for 4-6 generations. Six inbred lines were selected and utilized in half diallel crosses. Fifteen local F 1 hybrids were produced according to general combining ability. The inbred lines and their F 1 hybrids were evaluated in winter season under low tunnel, in two different ecological regions for two successive growing seasons. Yield components and some fruit physical characters of twenty one breeding entries were compared with that of five commercial hybrids. Results showed that many of investigated traits were improved by hybridization. Some local F 1 hybrids might be promising and competitive in commercials levels, since they produced higher yields and better fruit quality than some commercial hybrids. Moreover, the locally improved hybrids showed more stability against biotic and abiotic stress comparing with the commercial hybrids. According to this investigation, it could be concluded that conventional breeding using local genetic resources still have an important role in sustainable agricultural development in Egypt.

THE GENETIC RESOURCES OF TEMPERATE FRUIT TREES IN THE TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL ZONES OF ASIA, THEIR CONSERVATION AND UTILIZATION FOR BREEDING

ISHS VIII International Symposium on Temperate Zone Fruits in the Tropics and Subtropics THE GENETIC RESOURCES OF TEMPERATE FRUIT TREES IN THE TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL ZONES OF ASIA, THEIR CONSERVATION AND UTILIZATION FOR BREEDING

Management of local genetic resources by in situ and ex situ methods for research and breeding purpose: the case study of the local animal breeds of Guadeloupe and Martinique

Management of local genetic resources by in situ and ex situ methods for research and breeding purpose: the case study of the local animal breeds of Guadeloupe and Martinique

Molecular characterisation of ancient Prunus avium L. germplasm using sweet cherry SSR markers

SummaryA collection of 60 accessions of Prunus avium L. from the sweet cherry germplasm repository of the Campania Region in Italy, together with seven reference accessions of P. avium, were screened to estimate genetic diversity and to identify genetic relationships among accessions using a set of 28 microsatellite (SSR) markers. Of the 28 primer pairs used, 27 generated polymorphic amplification products and one was found to be monomorphic. Between twoand 14 alleles were revealed for the polymorphic loci, and the expected heterozygosity (He) ranged from 0.031 to 0.822. The total probability of identity was 5.59 10–16. The population structure was investigated using a model-based inference framework. Among the 67 accessions studied, the presence of seven groups was inferred using genetic data, without using prior information on the origin of the accessions. The probabilities of assignment of individual accessions to cultivated gene pools with proportions of membership >0.90 indicated that two gene pools accounted for the genomic origin of 46% of all the P. avium accessions sampled. A dendrogram was generated using the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA) based on a ‘Nei72’ geneticdistance analysis. This dendrogram classified all 60 ancient sweet cherry genotypes into one well-defined group that revealed the autochthonous character of most of the varieties cultivated in the Campania Region of Italy.The information obtained from SSR fingerprinting will be useful for optimising the conservation of cherry genetic resources present in the Campania Region. Moreover, this approach can be applied to optimise the conservation of local genetic resources of other fruit tree species.

MHC haplotype and susceptibility to experimental infections (Salmonella Enteritidis, Pasteurella multocida or Ascaridia galli) in a commercial and an indigenous chicken breed

In three independent experimental infection studies, the susceptibility and course of infection of three pathogens considered of importance in most poultry production systems, Ascaridia galli, Salmonella Enteritidis and Pasteurella multocida were compared in two chicken breeds, the indigenous Vietnamese Ri and the commercial Luong Phuong. Furthermore, the association of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) with disease-related parameters was evaluated, using alleles of the LEI0258 microsatellite as markers for MHC haplotypes.The Ri chickens were found to be more resistant to A. galli and S. Enteritidis than commercial Luong Phuong chickens. In contrast, the Ri chickens were more susceptible to P. multocida, although production parameters were more affected in the Luong Phuong chickens. Furthermore, it was shown that the individual variations observed in response to the infections were influenced by the MHC. Using marker alleles of the microsatellite LEI0258, which is located within the MHC region, several MHC haplotypes were identified as being associated with infection intensity of A. galli. An association of the MHC with the specific antibody response to S. Enteritidis was also found where four MHC haplotypes were shown to be associated with high specific antibody response. Finally, one MHC haplotype was identified as being associated with pathological lesions and mortality in the P. multocida experiment. Although not statistically significant, our analysis suggested that this haplotype might be associated with resistance. These results demonstrate the presence of local genetic resources in Vietnamese chickens, which could be utilized in breeding programmes aiming at improving disease resistance.