Utilization Of Genetic Resources Research Articles

Fair and Equitable Negotiations? African Influence and the International Access and Benefit-Sharing Regime

In 2010, at the tenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Parties adopted the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing (ABS). The adoption is the result of a long set of negotiations on the making of an international ABS regime, aiming to share benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources in a ‘fair and equitable way’. However, the conditions for this fair and equitable benefit-sharing lie in a decision-making process that is similarly fair and equitable, i.e. governed by the principles of procedural justice. This article traces the participation of the supposedly most disadvantaged participants in the ABS negotiations: the African countries. It shows that these countries managed to have more influence than what could have been expected in light of their economic and demographic weight. It then explores the procedural and institution-based sources underlying this influence and draws lessons from the African experience in the ABS negotiations with regard to international procedural justice.

An access and benefit-sharing awareness survey for botanic gardens: Are they prepared for the Nagoya Protocol?

Botanic gardens acquire, use and exchange plants for a range of scientific, conservation, economic and cultural purposes, and these activities are affected by the Convention on Biological Diversity's provisions on access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing and related national laws and policies. The new Nagoya Protocol on access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing, a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity, adds new requirements for compliance with national laws and providers' terms, including the monitoring of utilisation of genetic resources. A global survey of botanic gardens was conducted to assess awareness of access and benefit-sharing and potential preparedness for Nagoya Protocol requirements, using an online Qualtrics questionnaire distributed via Botanic Gardens Conservation International and American Public Gardens Association. Data were collected on gardens' location, governance, size, international involvement, network membership, familiarity with access and benefit-sharing, collections policies and extent to which gardens track material and permit terms. Representatives of 222 gardens from 46 countries responded. Results indicate that many respondents are not yet familiar with access and benefit-sharing or the Nagoya Protocol. Exchange of plant material is common, but many gardens do not track transfers to third parties, use material transfer agreements, or link permits or restrictions to collection records. Global socio-economic region and international involvement were significantly related to several measures of familiarity and preparedness. The survey demonstrates a need for more effective communication with government authorities and within institutions. Capacity-building initiatives and practical tools are needed to enable gardens and their networks to understand access and benefit-sharing, comply with new legislation, build trust and safeguard their role in conservation.

Reproductive Performance and Breeding Strategies for Genetic Improvement of Goat in Ethiopia: A Review

Economic opportunities exist for small ruminant producers to supply animals to both the export and domestic markets. The growing demands of meat products at the domestic as well as international markets also increase the importance of goat in the national economy of the country. Despite the large size of the country’s goat population, the productivity per unit of animal and the contribution of this sector to the national economy is relatively low. The phenotypes of the goats have important influence socio-cultural and economic values to the Ethiopian communities; as a result, most farmers have specific consideration and choices for goat coat colors followed by body sizes. Nowadays, there is a great interest worldwide in conservation and utilization of genetic resources aiming for a more efficient use of present genetic resources of the goat species. In Ethiopia, a number of organizations attempted to evaluate performances of farm animal genetic resources at different times predominantly under on-station management in ranches and research farms. Although, performance levels, genetic parameter estimates and breeding program practices are available for limited number of breeds, indigenous goat populations have developed certain valuable genetic traits such as ability to improve the performance under low input condition and climatic stress, tolerance to infectious diseases and parasites. These genotypes can help in meeting future challenges resulting from possible changes in production systems and consumer requirements. Hence, to efficiently utilize these special features of indigenous breeds, there is a need of planning and implementing viable breeding programs that fit to the existing low input production systems.

Special Issue on Sustainable Agriculture under Abiotic and Biotic Stress

World poverty and hunger are closely related toenvironmental degradation, caused by increasingpopulation pressure and urban expansions, soilerosion, limitation of water resources, gaseouspollution, and massive industrialization.Furthermore, climate changes and extreme weatherpatterns pose new challenges for crop productionand food security. Sustainable agriculture for theproduction of food and fiber, usingenvironmentally-conscious farming practices basedon understanding plant ecological interactions, iscrucial for the preservation of natural resources forfuture generations.This special issue focuses on recent researchprogress on understanding plant interaction withabiotic and biotic stress factors for sustainableagriculture. Plant stresses inflected by salinity,drought, floods, temperature extremes, radiation,and toxic substances deposited in the soil togetherwith diseases and insects attacks, are the majorlimitations of crop cultivation incurring substantialreduction in yield and hence elevate economiclosses to the farmers.Sustainable agriculture is challenged by thelosses in crop genetic diversity. Conservation ofavailable germplasm and the efficient utilization ofgenetic resources are important aspects of currentresearch. In this special issue, Yumurtaci (2015)reviewed the utilization of wild relatives for thedevelopment of abiotic and biotic stress tolerantnew varieties of four major food crops includingwheat, barley, maize and oat.Modern advances in biotechnology offerinnovative approaches for understanding thefundamental mechanisms of abiotic and bioticstress and the development of stress tolerant crops.On this topic, Bakhsh (2015) reviewed currentresearch achievements towards the development ofabiotic stress tolerant crops through geneticengineering. In addition, Ram and Sharma (2015)studied the molecular characterization of TaPase inwheat, a gene known to be involved in plantresponse to stress.Plant diseases represent another major challengefor sustainable agriculture. To illustrate theimportance of integrating genetic engineering in thestrategies to combat plant diseases, Elayabalan etal. (2015) reviewed relevant advances in thedevelopment of banana plants resistant to thebanana bunchy top disease.Moreover, crop plants must adapt to adverseclimatic conditions, particularly those associatedwith the global climatic changes. Stresses due toabiotic stress factors like drought, extremetemperature and salinity and heavy metal toxicityinflect tremendous losses in crop productivity andare considered as major challenging factors forfuture agriculture sustainability. This topic wasaddressed in this special issue in several papers.Ud-Din et al. (2015) addressed drought effect onrice yield in relation to hormonal application.Siddika et al. (2015) studied the response to hightemperature stress of Basella alba, a leaf vegetablecommonly names as vine spinach.On the topic of heavy metal toxicity, Fasahat(2015) reviewed progress made in understandingcadmium toxicity and tolerance in rice. The specialissue also include studies on nutrient uptake fromunder saline conditions in potato (Oustani et al.,2015) and ion content in wild sage (Lantanacamara) treated with mepiquat chloride applicationunder shading (Matsoukis et al., 2015). In additionAjambang et al. (2015) examined the response ofoil palm to defoliation stress. Obviously,understanding abiotic and biotic stress mechanismsis essential for the development of tolerant cropcultivars under the global climate change.ReferencesAjambang, W., S. W. Ardie, H. Volkaert, M.Galdima and S. Sudarsono. 2015. Hugecarbohydrate assimilates delay response tocomplete defoliation stress in oil palm (Elaeisguineensis Jacq.). Emir. J. Food Agric.27(1):126-137.Bakhsh, A. 2015. Genetic engineering of cropplants against abiotic stress: Current

Review of Strategies and Action Plans to Preserve Biodiversity in the Countries of West Asia in the Context of the Convention on Biological Diversity

The research aimed at revealing some of the features of the biodiversity planning process in the countries of West Asia by comparing the content of national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs) developed in the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The preparation mechanism of the strategies and States’ compliance Documents with the provisions of the Convention were also analyzed. of )NBSAPs( were obtained from the Secretariat of the CBD and the official websites of the concerned countries. Cluster analysis of NBSAPs objectives showed average similarity of 89.8% among NBSAPs of countries in the region and an average of 94.3% between NBSAPs objectives and the convention’s. Number of strategy objectives differ among strategies, nevertheless, similarity exists in preparation mechanism and strategies references. NBSAPs are characterized by the weaknesses of public participation and a notable absence of the role of the private sector. The setup process was limited in some countries to a team of few technicians and limited consultative mechanisms. Sectoral planning dominated most of NBSAPs processes and strategies were mostly dependent on external funding. Common objectives of NBSAPs were similar as they include; pursuing biodiversity conservation, sustainable use of its components, and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. Goals of the strategies varied among NBSAPs in terms of distribution and relation to the objectives of the convention, which formed the basis for the formulation of the objectives of NBSAPs. Economic tools were absent in valuation of biodiversity and the implications of its degradation. Furthermore, the goals of the NBSAPs were not linked to other national strategies goals, thus activities of synergistic nature were not materialized in the plan of work. Use of well defined indicators Institutional, administrative, regulatory, inadequate was absent too. financial resources and shortages of experts were the most common obstacles faced planning process. It is suggested that integrated planning that enables wide public participation and ecosystem based approach, which insures integration of development strategies, as well as inclusion of classified indicators be adopted in the preparation and formulation of the second generation of NBSAPs in the countries of the region.

Quantitative Trait Loci Associated with Micronutrient Concentrations in Two Recombinant Inbred Wheat Lines

Micronutrient malnutrition affects over three billion people worldwide, especially women and children in developing countries. Increasing the bioavailable concentrations of essential elements in the edible portions of crops is an effective resolution to address this issue. To determine the genetic factors controlling micronutrient concentration in wheat, the quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis for iron, zinc, copper, manganese, and selenium concentrations in two recombinant inbred line populations was performed. In all, 39 QTLs for five micronutrient concentrations were identified in this study. Of these, 22 alleles from synthetic wheat SHW-L1 and seven alleles from the progeny line of the synthetic wheat Chuanmai 42 showed an increase in micronutrient concentrations. Five QTLs on chromosomes 2A, 3D, 4D, and 5B found in both the populations showed significant phenotypic variation for 2–3 micronutrient concentrations. Our results might help understand the genetic control of micronutrient concentration and allow the utilization of genetic resources of synthetic hexaploid wheat for improving micronutrient efficiency of cultivated wheat by using molecular marker-assisted selection.

Achievements and Challenges in Improving Temperate Perennial Forage Legumes

The expected move towards more sustainable crop-livestock systems implies wider cultivation of perennial forage legumes. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa subsp. sativa) is the main perennial legume in most temperate regions, especially where farm systems rely largely on forage conservation. White clover (Trifolium repens) and red clover (Trifolium pratense) are dominant in specific regions and farm systems. Although breeding progress for disease and insect resistance has been achieved, these crops have shown lower rates of genetic gain for yield than major grain crops, owing to lower breeding investment, longer selection cycles, impossibility to capitalize on harvest index, outbreeding mating systems associated with severe inbreeding depression, and high interaction of genotypes with cropping conditions and crop utilizations. Increasing yield, persistence, adaptation to stressful conditions (drought; salinity; grazing) and compatibility with companion grasses are major breeding targets. We expect genetic gain for yield and other complex traits to accelerate due to progress in genetic resource utilization, genomics resource development, integration of marker-assisted selection with breeding strategies, and trait engineering. The richness in adaptive genes of landraces and natural populations can be fully exploited through an ecological understanding of plant adaptive responses and improved breeding strategies. Useful genetic variation from secondary and tertiary gene pools of Medicago and Trifolium is being increasingly accessed. Genome sequencing projects in alfalfa and white clover will enrich physical, linkage and trait maps. Genome sequences will underpin fine mapping of useful loci and subsequent allele mining, leveraging the synteny of these crops with M. truncatula. Low-cost genome-wide markers generated through genotyping-by-sequencing will make genomic selection for adaptation and forage yield possible for these crops. Genetic markers will also be used for dissecting quantitative traits and developing toolboxes of functional markers for stress tolerance and other traits. Under current regulatory policies, transgenic approaches are likely to be limited to a few breakthrough traits. The key challenge for future applications of genomics technologies is their seamless integration with breeding system logistics and breeding schemes.

Establishment and genetic characteristics analysis of in vitro culture a fibroblast cell line derived from Wuzhishan miniature pig

Establishment of fibroblast cell lines of endangered pig breeds and research on the gene functions based on the cells made a significant contribution to the conservation and utilization of genetic resources. The Wuzhishan miniature pig ear marginal tissue fibroblast cell line (WPF22) from 22 samples, stocking 87 cryogenically-preserved vials, was successfully established by using primary explants technique and cell cryopreservation techniques. WPF22 cells were adherent, with a population doubling time of 30.2h. Chromosome karyotyping and G-banding analysis showed that >90.2% of cells were diploid (2n=38) prior to the 4th generation. Neither microbial contamination nor cross-contamination was detected by isoenzyme analyses. Cell viability was 97.8% before cryopreservation and 94.9% after recovery. To determine cell permeability, intracellular path and stability of exogenous proteins during the transduction, six fluorescent protein genes were transferred into fibroblasts by lipofectamine-mediated method. The transfection efficiency of six fluorescent protein genes fluctuated between 8.1% and 42.6%. ECFP and DsRed were mostly shown in cytoplasmic in dots around the nucleus, and EYFP and EGFP had a slightly stronger expression in the nucleus than in the cytoplasm, but without expression in some vacuoles. Every index of the WPF22 cell line meets all the standard quality controls of American type Culture Collection (ATCC). This research thus does not only preserve important genetic resources of Wuzhishan miniature pig at the cell level, but also serve as a valuable resource for genome, postgenome and somacloning research.

Isolation and characterization of nineteen novel polymorphic microsatellite loci for the northern snakehead Channa argus

Channa argus is one of the most important economic fish species in China. However, there is limited genetic information on its population structure and genetic diversity. Nineteen novel polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized in 42 individuals from one natural population collected from the Poyang Lake in Ji- angxi Province. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 5 to 18 with an average of 11.16. The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.214 to 1.000 and from 0.630 to 0.923, respectively. The average polymorphic information content value was 0.814. Among these polymorphic microsatellites, eleven loci conformed to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. These microsatellite loci are currently being used to assess the genetic diversity and population structure of C. argus and will contribute to the effective conservation and rational utilization of genetic resources of this species.

Access to and use of marine genetic resources: understanding the legal framework

With the adoption of the Nagoya Protocol in 2010, an additional legal instrument under the Convention on Biological Diversity (1992), the legal landscape surrounding the access to and utilization of genetic resources will change. This is likely to impact working procedures for scientists, turning pre-existing ethics into legal obligations. The aim of this article is to inform scientists on the global access and benefit-sharing framework which has been set by the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Nagoya Protocol, focusing specifically on their application to marine genetic resources for which the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982) also has relevance.

Role of all India coordinated research project in development of floriculture in India

India, the land of flowers is clearly depicted from the ancient civilization and is intricately associated with right from birth till death. Here, hardly any function is complete without flowers. However commercial floriculture is of recent origin. India's varied agro-climate, ample sunshine and proximity to the markets of Middle-East and South Asian countries offer great opportunities to harness potential in floriculture and ornamentals. The systematic research in floriculture started with the establishment of All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Floriculture during 1970–71 by linking the ICAR Institutes with the State Agricultural Universities (SAU's) to carryout nation-wide interdisciplinary research. The AICRP on Floriculture has a mandate to coordinate floricultural research on genetic resource utilization, crop improvement, standardization of production technology, focus on resource utilization such as productive use of water, developing repository of data bank, plant architecture engineering and management, generating the need-based technology for crop protection and value addition. It also aims at development of environment-friendly, cost-effective and user friendly technologies apt for variable agro-climatic conditions, thereby reducing the dependence on cost-intensive extraneous technologies. At present the AICRP on Floriculture with its 22 coordinated centres (16 Budgetary, 4 institutional and 2 voluntary) are working on 13 ornamental crops viz. Rose, Gladiolus, carnation, Chrysanthemum, marigold, orchid, anthurium, tuberose, Gerbera, lilium, alstroemeria, tulip and daffodils consisting of 68 different research projects focusing on development of new and improved varieties, standardization of production technology including improved measures for control of insect pests and diseases and post harvest technologies, extraction of essential oils, flower drying and identification and agro-techniques for unexplored flowers.

유전자원에 관한 국가주권의 확대와 중국의 법제

The Expansion of National Sovereignty and China's Legal System on Genetic Resources The tenth Conference of Parties of Convention on Biological Diversity adopted the Nagoya Protocol on the Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits on 29 October 2010 in Nagoya, Japan. In accordance with its Article 32, The Nagoya Protocol was opened for signature by Parties to the Convention from 2 February 2011 until 1 February 2012. In total, 92 countries have signed the Nagoya Protocol and 26 have already ratified it. The Nagoya Protocol will enter into force after ratification by fifty states. Recently EU has shown a move of ratifications for the Nagoya Protocol and Bolivia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Kenai, Madagascar, Malaysia, Peru, the Philippines, Venezuela, and the LMMC(Like-Minded Mega-diverse Countries) that have not ratified the Nagoya Protocol are increasing probability to ratify. Also, Many countries interested in ABS(access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing) has shown a move of ratifications. After the CBD in 1993, the objective of fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources has been a big issue. To negotiate the international regime for ABS of genetic resources is a main mandate for in the past years and ABS becomes an inevitable international norm by the adoption of the Nagoya Protocol. The objective of the Nagoya Protocol is the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources, including by appropriate access to genetic resources and by appropriate transfer of relevant technologies, taking into account all rights over those resources and to technologies, and thereby contributing to the conservation of biological diversity and the sustainable use of its components. According to the Protocol, the main principles of ABS include that 1) it should approve the sovereign right of the nation-states on genetic resources, 2) it is required to obtain PIC(prior informed consent) from provider countries, and 3) users and providers of genetic resources should share benefits equally from the utilization of genetic resources, with the contract on the basis of MAT(mutually agreed terms). Parties to the Nagoya Protocol are required to enact related domestic laws and necessary administrative and politic actions, in order to enforce the principles of ABS. In these circumstances, each country is increasing the level of public awareness about Nagoya Protocol and protection of genetic resources through taking domestic measures. In particular, China that our largest trading partner is trying for protection of genetic resources and traditional knowledge associated with genetic resource and be watched intently foreign legislation and measures. If Nagoya Protocol will enter into force, With China that share the traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources of the same type, genetic resources dispute is foretold. And seen the entry into force of the Nagoya Protocol is a matter of time, can be seen to have reached the desired point in time to respond to this.

Protection of the Associated Traditional Knowledge on Genetic Resources: Beyond the Nagoya Protocol

Abstract One of the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilisation of genetic resources. It addresses traditional knowledge of the indigenous or local communities associated with genetic resources with provisions on access, benefit-sharing (ABS) and compliance, as enshrined under Article 8(j) and Article 15 of CBD. The 2010 Nagoya Protocol is a supplementary agreement to CBD by providing a transparent legal framework for the effective implementation of ABS, which is a cornerstone of CBD. To ensure its success, the Nagoya Protocol requires effective implementation of ABS measures at the domestic level to provide for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources, which is crucial for mega bio diverse countries like Malaysia, with the contracting party providing such genetic resources. This study embarked to examine the obligations set by the Nagoya Protocol on the parties to CBD to implement ABS by taking legislative, administrative and policy (LAP) measures at the domestic level. The findings reveal the core obligations laid down by the Nagoya Protocol for its contracting parties to take appropriate LAP measures to protect traditional knowledge and to sustainably manage and use their biodiversity.

The Tragedy of Unpersuasive Power: The Convention on Biological Diversity as Exemplary

The complement to “The Tragedy of the Commons” is “The Tragedy of Unpersuasive Power.” A class of problems exists for which technical solutions go unheeded. Logic and evidence do not prevail. Nevertheless, the fallacies and rhetoric do make sense in the light of human evolution as eusocial: groupthink is the consequence of group selection. Exemplary of the class of problems is “access to genetic resources [and] the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources,” (ABS) of the 1993 United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Capacious language in the 2010 Nagoya Protocol on ABS has immortalized contentious issues which could have been resolved through the economics of information, elaborated since 1992. The online discussion groups of the ABS Clearing House afford a natural experiment to test the tragedy. The solution is “delegated delegation” driven by a quest for legacy by the leadership.

뽕나무 유전자원의 1-deoxynojirimycin 함량 변이

Countries of the world are competing for the collection and utilization of genetic resources, which is a resource of valueadded industrialization. We are building database of silkworm and mulberry resources with morphological, genetic characteristics data etc. Moreover, recent bioactive compound has been receiving increasing attention. So we analyzed 1deoxynojirimycin(1-DNJ) content as a this item in addition to the basic information using 363 strains(varieties) of mulberry genetic resources. They were grown under the same environment and conditions. Mulberry leaves were collected and then freeze-dried and powdered for 1-DNJ test. As a result, 1-DNJ mean content of 363 mulberry strains was 0.176±0.077%, and the coefficient of variation (CV) was 43.5%. The variation between the strains was greatly severe. Among the tested strains, ‘C1D89/29’ was showed the highest content of 0.47%, whereas ‘Pumbo 24’ and ‘Turkey E’ were showed the lowest content of 0.05% respectively. The content of 1-DNJ of 16 mulberry varieties for silkworm rearing were compared. Average concentration was 0.17±0.04%, and the coefficient of variation (CV) was 22.8%. Variation among cultivars was not significant. Finally we selected 1-DNJ high-containing 11 strains. They are as follows. ‘C1D89/29’, ‘Hiihak’, ‘Jeokasibmunja’, ‘Gweonchil’, ‘Botongsibmunja’, ‘Jeokchuk’, ‘bulguksang’, ‘Geunsookgojo', ‘Busanggeum’, ‘Guksang 20’ and ‘Taekwang’ which are more than twice of the overall average content.

농업유전자원은행의 식물유전자원 분양 활용에 대한 수요자 요구도 분석

농촌진흥청 농업유전자원센터의 식물유전자원 확보, 보존 및 활용과 관련하여 수요자가 요구하는 유전자원 확보 및 유전자원의 품질향상 방안을 도출하기 위하여 2010년도에 종자 유전자원을 분양받아 활용한 수요자를 대상으로 2011년에 우편설문 방법에 의하여 설문조사를 실시하고 분석한 결과는 다음과 같다. 1. 분양된 유전자원에 대한 만족도는 종자의 순도, 발아율 및 기대 특성 발현도 등에서 '보통이상이다'고 답변한 비율이 각각 87.5%, 88.9%, 84.2%로 높게 나타났으며, 유전자원을 분양신청한 후 자원을 수령하기까지는 76.7%가 15일 이내에 수령한 것으로 만족도를 나타내었다. 2. 유전자원을 분양받은 후 자원을 활용하여 추진하고 있는 경과상황 및 예상 성과, 분양자원의 활용결과보고서 제출 여부 등에 관한 설문조사에서는 89.2%가 '분양받은 자원이 목적한대로 활용 중이다'는 답변을 나타내었다. 자원 활용 예상성과에 대해서는 자원정보 축적과 논문발표가 비교적 높은 비율이고 신품종 등록과 특허 출원이 상대적으로 낮은 비율을 나타내었는데 현시점에서의 유전자원 분양요청자의 성향을 나타낸 것으로 해석할 수 있다. 분양자원의 활용결과보고서 제출여부에 대한 답변결과는 자원분양 시 별도의 조치가 필요한 것으로 나타났다. 3. 유전자원 분양과 관련한 개선사항에 대한 설문에서는 특성이 있는 유전자원의 확보 제공과 유전자원의 특성정보 제공에 대한 답변 합계가 75.0%로서 유전자원 분양업무 절차보다는 현실적으로 필요한 자원이나 정보가 보다 더 절실함을 나타내었다. 금후 필요한 유전자원에 대한 설문에서의 답변은 국내의 재래종이 23.8%로 가장 많았고, 국제농업연구기관 보유 유전자원 21.4%, 외국국가가 보유한 유전자원 21.4%로 외국의 유전자원에 대한 희망이 42.8%로 나타나고 있으며, 다음이 해당 작물의 야생종 또는 야생근연종 10.7%, 외국의 육성품종 또는 계통 9.5%, 국내의 육성품종 또는 계통 9.5%의 순이었다. 또한, 수요자 소속별로 희망하는 유전자원이 다르게 나타났다. 4. 설문조사 분석결과, 유전자원 관리 단계별로 반영하여 수요자가 요구하는 유전자원을 우선적으로 확보하고 보존자원의 품질향상 관리가 되도록 하는 것이 중요한 것으로 나타났다. 수요자 맞춤형 자원도입 및 우선순위에 의한 자원 확보가 요구되었고, 보유 자원의 품질향상을 위해서는 자원 도입 시부터 특성 있는 자원을 확보하고 보존자원의 특성평가가 조속히 추진될 필요가 있으며, 유전자원 정보의 확충 및 확대 제공 노력이 요구되었다. The National Agrobiodiversity Center is the nodal agency assigned as the National Agricultural Genebank of the Rural Development Administration. Its main role is to collect, conserve, evaluate and distribute plant genetic resources. As of 2010, NAC has distributed a total of 380,981 accessions in the last 20 years (1991-2010) or an average of about 19,000 accessions per year. To meet customers' demands for germplasm and derive quality improvements, a mail survey in 2011 was conducted among the genetic resource users in 2010. Most of the clients obtained information on the germplasm conserved in the national genebank from the NAC website or NAC staff, and they sought specific traits in the samples. Most users received the materials within 15 days, and wanted useful data together with genetic resource. Korean landrace was the most frequently requested accessions. According to the survey results, it is supposed that useful genetic resources should be preferentially collected and their characterization/evaluation should be strengthened to enhance the utilization of genetic resources.

Strengthening the impact of plant genetic resources through collaborative collection, conservation, characterisation, and evaluation: a tribute to the legacy of Dr Clive Francis

This paper is a tribute to the legacy of Dr Clive Francis, who directly and indirectly collected >14 000 accessions across 60 genera of pasture, forage, and crop species and their wild relatives around the Mediterranean basin, Eastern Africa, and Central and South Asia from 1973 to 2005. This was achieved by a collaborative approach that built strong interactions between disparate organisations (ICARDA, VIR, CLIMA, and Australian genebanks) based on germplasm exchange, conservation and documentation, capacity building, and joint collection. These activities greatly strengthened Australian pasture, forage, and crop genebanks, and led to widespread germplasm utilisation that has waned in the last 5 years, reflecting changing priorities among industry funding bodies and research providers. This situation must be reversed, given the pivotal role genetic resource collections must play to broaden the genetic and adaptive base of plant breeding, to meet the challenge of feeding an increasing population in a depleting resource base. Because the use of germplasm subsets that facilitate phenotyping will stimulate wider utilisation of genetic resources, we discuss the application of core collection and germplasm selection through habitat characterisation/filtering in Australian collections. Both are valid entry points into large collections, but the latter has the advantage of enabling both trait discovery and investigation of plant adaptation, and because it is based on a priori hypothesis testing, it increases understanding even when the trait of interest is not identified.

Pre-breeding for diversification of primary gene pool and genetic enhancement of grain legumes.

The narrow genetic base of cultivars coupled with low utilization of genetic resources are the major factors limiting grain legume production and productivity globally. Exploitation of new and diverse sources of variation is needed for the genetic enhancement of grain legumes. Wild relatives with enhanced levels of resistance/tolerance to multiple stresses provide important sources of genetic diversity for crop improvement. However, their exploitation for cultivar improvement is limited by cross-incompatibility barriers and linkage drags. Pre-breeding provides a unique opportunity, through the introgression of desirable genes from wild germplasm into genetic backgrounds readily used by the breeders with minimum linkage drag, to overcome this. Pre-breeding activities using promising landraces, wild relatives, and popular cultivars have been initiated at International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) to develop new gene pools in chickpea, pigeonpea, and groundnut with a high frequency of useful genes, wider adaptability, and a broad genetic base. The availability of molecular markers will greatly assist in reducing linkage drags and increasing the efficiency of introgression in pre-breeding programs.

GENETICS AND BREEDING OF PEPPER AND EGGPLANT (CONFERENCE MATERIALS «XV MEETING ON GENETICS AND BREEDING OF CAPSICUM AND EGGPLANT», EUCARPIA, TORINO, ITALY, 2J4 SEPTEMBER 2013)

On 2-4th of September, 2013 the International «XV EUCARPIA Meeting on Genetics and Breeding of Capsicum and Eggplant» was held in Torino (Italy). The problems of utilization of genetic resources, evaluation and release of breeding material were discussed. Achievements in the field of molecular genetics and biotechnology of pepper and eggplant are presented.

Cryopreservation of Canine Embryos and Resulting Pregnancies

The assisted reproductive techniques used in dogs have strictly limited utility when compared with other mammals. Although successful somatic cell cloning has been reported, artificial insemination by frozen semen has been only readily available method for improved breeding for companion and working dogs. Recently, successful cryopreservation of embryos and subsequent embryo transfer with a non-surgical technique in dog was reported. Application of embryo cryopreservation and transfer technology could contribute to breeding management in companion dogs, working dogs including guide dogs and drug-detecting dogs and quarantine dogs. Such technology would also facilitate the transportation and storage of genetic materials and aid in the elimination of vertically transmitting diseases in the dog.