Utilization Of Plant Genetic Resources Research Articles

Capitalizing on genebank core collections for rare and novel disease resistance loci to enhance barley resilience.

In the realm of agricultural sustainability, the utilization of plant genetic resources for enhanced disease resistance is paramount. Preservation efforts in genebanks are justified by their potential contributions to future crop improvement. To capitalize on the potential of plant genetic resources, we focused on a barley core collection from the German ex situ genebank and contrasted it with a European elite collection. The phenotypic assessment included 812 plant genetic resources and 298 elites, with a particular emphasis on four disease traits (Puccinia hordei, Blumeria graminis hordei, Ramularia collo-cygni, and Rhynchosporium commune). An integrated genome-wide association study, employing both Bayesian-information and linkage-disequilibrium iteratively nested keyway (BLINK) and a linear mixed model, was performed to unravel the genetic underpinnings of disease resistance. A total of 932 marker-trait associations were identified and assigned to 49 quantitative trait loci. The accumulation of novel and rare resistance alleles significantly bolstered the overall resistance level in plant genetic resources. Three plant genetic resources donors with high counts of novel/rare alleles and exhibiting exceptional resistance to leaf rust and powdery mildew were identified, offering promise for targeted pre-breeding goals and enhanced resilience in future varieties. Our findings underscore the critical contribution of plant genetic resources to strengthening crop resilience and advancing sustainable agricultural practices.

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Nagoya Protocol: Implications and Compliance Strategies for the Global Coffee Community.

The Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing (ABS) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is a fundamental international agreement that plays a crucial role in the protection and equitable utilization of plant genetic resources. While this agreement is essential for conservation and sustainable use, it presents specific challenges to coffee research and industry. One major issue is the requirement to obtain prior informed consent (PIC) from the source country or community, which can be a complex and time-consuming process, especially in regions with limited governance capacity. Additionally, the mandates of this agreement necessitate benefit-sharing with the source community, a requirement that poses implementation challenges, particularly for small businesses or individual researchers. Despite these challenges, the importance of the Nagoya Protocol in the coffee sector cannot be overstated. It contributes significantly to the conservation of coffee genetic resources and the sustainable utilization of these resources, ensuring fair distribution of benefits. To address the complexities presented by this international framework, coffee researchers and industry need to engage proactively with source countries and communities. This includes developing clear and equitable benefit-sharing and implementing strategies for compliance. This article explores the impact of the Nagoya Protocol on the coffee industry, particularly emphasizing the need for balancing scientific investigation with the ethical considerations of resource sharing. It also discusses practical strategies for navigating the complexities of this agreement, including research focused on authenticity control and the challenges in conducting large-scale coffee studies. The conclusion underscores the potential for international collaboration, particularly through platforms like the International Coffee Organization (ICO), to harmonize research activities with the ethical imperatives of the Nagoya Protocol.

Exploring genetic diversity of Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. across six Korean island regions: implications for conservation and utilization

AbstractDespite the increasing demand for diverse Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. species in Korea, studies on related topics are limited, with the majority of studies focusing on functional evaluations, rather than genetic diversity. Therefore, in this study, we explored the genetic diversity of C. asiatica, a valuable medicinal plant collected from six island regions in Korea, using genotyping-by-sequencing analysis. Specifically, we aimed to understand plant genetic variations, population structure and the potential for conservation and genetic improvement. The results indicated relatively high genetic diversity among the samples collected from the six island regions but low genetic differentiation among their populations. Two distinct genetic clusters were identified; however, even within these clusters, genetic differentiation was minimal. The lack of significant isolation-by-distance patterns and evidence of potential clonal spread suggested that some individuals that adapted to colder Korean conditions achieved dominance. This study highlights the importance of assessing the genetic diversity of native C. asiatica in Korea and explores the possibility of conducting follow-up studies to understand the phytochemical content and bioactivity variations among the individuals. This information can aid in the selection of superior resources and effective utilization of plant genetic resources for cultivar development and other applications.

Professor Andreas Graner: driven by the quest to unlock crop plant genomes for conservation and utilization of germplasm for breeding.

Professor Andreas Graner stands as a towering figure in international crop plant genomics research, leaving an indelible imprint on the field over the past four decades. As we commemorate the 80th anniversary of Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Gatersleben, Germany and Professor Graner's retirement in September 2023, here we celebrate and acknowledge his profound impact on crop genome analyses and genebank genomics. His trailblazing work extends from developing the first integrated RFLP map of barley, establishing the foundation of barley genome sequencing, and advancing functional genomics of malting quality, to pioneering the use of high-throughput phenomics. As the dedicated custodian of Germany's largest ex situ genebank at IPK Gatersleben, Professor Graner has fortified the institution's collection management and crop research, thereby contributing significantly to global efforts on conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources through genomics approaches. Alongside his impressive array of scientific achievements, Professor Graner's inspiring mentorship has nurtured a new generation of scientists, including us, leaving a lasting legacy in the field. This tribute underscores his enduring influence and celebrates his unwavering dedication to the scientific community.

Lifetime of Corn Seeds in Long-Term Storage in the National Genetic Bank of Albania

Genetic banks manage seed collections for the conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources. AGB implements standards for genebank management recommending a temperature of -18 ± 3°C for long-term storage of the base collection and 5-10°C for medium-term storage of the active collection.The germination energy of the 12 maize accessions taken in the study has relatively low initial values. The values of germination energy, even after 20 years of seed storage, do not deviate much from the initial data (from 2000) and from those from 2010 (10 years of seed storage). The germination data for the three years of testing are somewhat small in the initial testing. The average capacity germination for all 12 accessions under study in the 2010 test is 4.2% lower than the initial test (year 2000), so there is a decrease in capacity germination. Whereas in the testing of 2020, i.e. after storing the seed for 20 years in the genetic bank, there was a decrease in capacity germination on average of 2.9%; that is, there was less decrease in capacity germination in the second 10 years of storage compared to the first 10 years. The reduction in germination is not to the same degree between accessions. Four pairs of correlations were found, three between energy germination indicators and one among capacity germination. The correlation coefficients are positive and related to the age of the seed.

Evaluation of Genetic Diversity in Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea var. rugosa) Employing SSR Molecular Markers

Indian mustard (Brassica juncea var. rugosa) constitutes an authoritative group of mustard crops in India. Evaluation of genetic diversity is a vivacious component of mustard breeding programmes for efficient utilization of plant genetic resources. In present study, 77 microsatellite markers were employed to assess the genetic diversity of 75 Indian mustard genotypes. Results revealed positive amplification for all SSRs, with 21 SSRs exhibiting polymorphic amplicons. A total of 99 alleles, ranging from 3 to 5 with an average of 4.71 alleles per SSR marker were obtained. The major allele frequency varied between 0.26 (cnu/m616) and 0.56 (ENA28F) with an average value of 0.36. The average polymorphic information content (PIC) value was 0.67 and ranged between 0.43 (ENA28F) and 0.76 (gi258660710gbGT071338.1). Mean value of 0.72 was detected for each pair of SSR primers, with the gene diversity per locus ranging between 0.53 (ENA28F) and 0.79 (gi258660710gbGT071338.1). The dendrogram grouped the 75 genotypes into three main clusters or subpopulations based on Unweighted Neighbour-Joining technique. The study revealed better understanding of the genetic diversity among different Indian mustard genotypes using genomic-SSR markers that could be exploited for the genetic improvement of the crop.

Genetic Diversity, Conservation, and Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources.

Plant genetic resources (PGRs) are the total hereditary material, which includes all the alleles of various genes, present in a crop species and its wild relatives. They are a major resource that humans depend on to increase farming resilience and profit. Hence, the demand for genetic resources will increase as the world population increases. There is a need to conserve and maintain the genetic diversity of these valuable resources for sustainable food security. Due to environmental changes and genetic erosion, some valuable genetic resources have already become extinct. The landraces, wild relatives, wild species, genetic stock, advanced breeding material, and modern varieties are some of the important plant genetic resources. These diverse resources have contributed to maintaining sustainable biodiversity. New crop varieties with desirable traits have been developed using these resources. Novel genes/alleles linked to the trait of interest are transferred into the commercially cultivated varieties using biotechnological tools. Diversity should be maintained as a genetic resource for the sustainable development of new crop varieties. Additionally, advances in biotechnological tools, such as next-generation sequencing, molecular markers, in vitro culture technology, cryopreservation, and gene banks, help in the precise characterization and conservation of rare and endangered species. Genomic tools help in the identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and novel genes in plants that can be transferred through marker-assisted selection and marker-assisted backcrossing breeding approaches. This article focuses on the recent development in maintaining the diversity of genetic resources, their conservation, and their sustainable utilization to secure global food security.

Tomato Landraces May Benefit from Protected Production—Evaluation on Phytochemicals

Plant genetic resources (PGRs) serving as a wide genetic pool of tomato germplasm can provide a solid base for recent breeding efforts to increase consumer acceptance towards the taste and the phytonutrient properties of novel tomato varieties. Old varieties and landraces were abandoned by producers due to unfavorable phenotypic characteristics; however, their high adaptability and nutritional properties are inevitably valuable. This study aims to investigate the impact of open-field vs. protected production on various bioactive compound parameters and on the antioxidant status of seven indeterminate-type tomato PGRs in an organic production system for two years (2015–2016). Genotype main effect plus genotype × environment interaction (GGE) biplots were created for visualizing the which-won-where concept of the PGRs investigated. The GGE analysis revealed that the phytonutrient content of certain PGRs is less dependent on location and more influenced by differences in microclimatic conditions. “Balatonboglár”, “Mátrafüred” and “Fadd” PGRs performed better in a polytunnel, while Tarnaméra provided better results in an open field. “Máriapócs” and “San Marzano” showed a relative independence from production location in terms of their measured phytonutrient values. These findings enrich the nutritional datasets of tomato landraces, which support the in situ conservation and utilization of PGRs in breeding programs.

Management and Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources for a Sustainable Agriculture.

Despite the dramatic increase in food production thanks to the Green Revolution, hunger is increasing among human populations around the world, affecting one in nine people. The negative environmental and social consequences of industrial monocrop agriculture is becoming evident, particularly in the contexts of greenhouse gas emissions and the increased frequency and impact of zoonotic disease emergence, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Human activity has altered 70–75% of the ice-free Earth’s surface, squeezing nature and wildlife into a corner. To prevent, halt, and reverse the degradation of ecosystems worldwide, the UN has launched a Decade of Ecosystem Restoration. In this context, this review describes the origin and diversity of cultivated species, the impact of modern agriculture and other human activities on plant genetic resources, and approaches to conserve and use them to increase food diversity and production with specific examples of the use of crop wild relatives for breeding climate-resilient cultivars that require less chemical and mechanical input. The need to better coordinate in situ conservation efforts with increased funding has been highlighted. We emphasise the need to strengthen the genebank infrastructure, enabling the use of modern biotechnological tools to help in genotyping and characterising accessions plus advanced ex situ conservation methods, identifying gaps in collections, developing core collections, and linking data with international databases. Crop and variety diversification and minimising tillage and other field practices through the development and introduction of herbaceous perennial crops is proposed as an alternative regenerative food system for higher carbon sequestration, sustaining economic benefits for growers, whilst also providing social and environmental benefits.

Review on the application of molecular approaches for the genetic analysis of teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) populations

Teak (<i>Tectona grandis</i> L.f.), a prominent tropical hardwood tree species, yields one of the finest timbers in the world. Because of its capability to provide high quality timbers, the demand of teak wood has been on the rise for centuries. However, the natural populations of teak have been declined drastically because mainly of over- exploitation and deforestation. Geographically, Bangladesh is a very potential region for the growth of teak plants. Although variations in ecologically and economically important morphological traits of teak have been investigated worldwide for many decades, molecular data regarding genetic variation between and among populations have received relatively less attention. Among all the available molecular markers, some notable markers are- Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP), Inter Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSR) and Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs), although each of them has their own merits and demerits. Different parameters and components of genetic diversity study have been estimated by using different techniques and analytical tools. These components of genetic diversity help us to give a precise picture on the proper utilization of plant genetic resources and also help in initiating the effective timber plant management techniques.

Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources of Bambara Groundnut Conserved Ex Situ and Genetic Diversification of Its Primary Genepool for Semi-Arid Production

Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc) is a nutritious and drought-tolerant crop that is native to Africa. Currently, it possesses a cosmopolitan distribution across the semi-arid agro-ecologies of Africa and its cultivation has extended to other regions, particularly in the drier parts of Asia and Indonesia. Due to historic neglect, research on the crop and policy prioritization in national breeding programs is lagging; hence, varietal development is in its infancy. Farmers rely on traditional landraces, which are characterized by low productivity and yield. Breeding for moisture stress adaptation and high yield is crucial to improve its productivity and adequate genetic diversity is desired to strengthen resiliency for climate adaptation and nutritional and food security. Nevertheless, thousands of plant genetic resources (PGRs) conserved in several genebanks are still not being fully utilized to reintroduce lost diversity into farmers’ fields and pre-breeding activities. The exploitation of ex situ conserved PGRs has been minimal due to a lack of extensive genetic characterization. Thus, to harness utilization of the PGRs in genetic improvement programs, holistic strategies including the traditional genomic resources and participatory-led trait discoveries are needed to bridge the gap between conservation and utilization of ex situ germplasm. This review focuses on the PGRs of bambara, methods to widen genetic diversity, genomic resources, and high-throughput phenotyping to enhance the utilization of genetic resources in pre-breeding programs, and approaches to identify useful adaptive features for yield and drought.

Genomic Tools in Plant Genetic Resource Management

Significant progress has been made in conservation of plant germplasm in last few decades. However, the utilization of genetic resources has remained poor. The reason for the under utilization of plant genetic resources (PGR) are non-availability of structured information and resources from gene banks. This was due to lack of characterization and evaluation data, and under usage of genomic tools in characterization. With the evolution of genomic tools, which get cheaper with discovery of newer technologies, it is pertinent to use these tools for management and utilization of PGR from vast germplasm conserved in gene banks throughout world. In this context the present article describes the tools that can be used in gene bank management and the way to utilize the germplasm with the examples from the Indian National Gene Bank.

Assessing the genetic diversity of twenty one Colombo limon L. genotypes through multivariate and covariance matrix analysis

Assessing the genetic diversity of twenty one Colombo limon L. genotypes through multivariate and covariance matrix analysis

Tritordeum: Creating a New Crop Species-The Successful Use of Plant Genetic Resources.

Hexaploid tritordeum is the amphiploid derived from the cross between the wild barley Hordeum chilense and durum wheat. This paper reviews the main advances and achievements in the last two decades that led to the successful development of tritordeum as a new crop. In particular, we summarize the progress in breeding for agronomic performance, including the potential of tritordeum as a genetic bridge for wheat breeding; the impact of molecular markers in genetic studies and breeding; and the progress in quality and development of innovative food products. The success of tritordeum as a crop shows the importance of the effective utilization of plant genetic resources for the development of new innovative products for agriculture and industry. Considering that wild plant genetic resources have made possible the development of this new crop, the huge potential of more accessible resources, such as landraces conserved in gene banks, goes beyond being sources of resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. In addition, the positive result of tritordeum also shows the importance of adequate commercialization strategies and demonstrative experiences aimed to integrate the whole food chain, from producers to end-point sellers, in order to develop new products for consumers.

Unlocking the inherent potential of plant genetic resources: food security and climate adaptation strategy in Fiji and the Pacific.

Pacific Island Countries (PICs) are the center of origin and diversity for several root, fruit and nut crops, which are indispensable for food security, rural livelihoods, and cultural identity of local communities. However, declining genetic diversity of traditional food crops and high vulnerability to climate change are major impediments for maintaining agricultural productivity. Limited initiatives to achieve food self-sufficiency and utilization of Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) for enhancing resilience of agro-ecosystems are other serious constraints. This review focuses on the visible and anticipated impacts of climate ge, on major food and tree crops in agriculture and agroforestry systems in the PICs. We argue that crop improvement through plant breeding is a viable strategy to enhance food security and climatic resilience in the region. The exploitation of adaptive traits: abiotic and biotic stress tolerance, yield and nutritional efficiency, is imperative in a world threatened by climatic extremes. However, the insular constraints of Fiji and other small PICs are major limitations for the utilization of PGR through high throughput techniques which are also cost prohibitive. Crop Improvement programs should instead focus on the identification, conservation, documentation and dissemination of information on unique landraces, community seed banks, introduction of new resistant genotypes, and sustaining and enhancing allelic diversity.

Simple sequence repeat‐based mini‐core collection for white Guinea yam (Dioscorea rotundata) germplasm

AbstractA core subset with a small number of accessions representing the genetic diversity of the base collection plays a vital role in facilitating efficient utilization of plant genetic resources. This is particularly relevant for vegetatively propagated large plant size tuber crops with a long growing period, such as white Guinea yam (Dioscorea rotundata Poir.). For the efficient utilization of D. rotundata genetic resources, this study was aimed at developing a mini‐core collection from a core collection of 447 D. rotundata accessions maintained at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). Accordingly, a D. rotundata mini‐core collection representing 102 accessions was selected using 16 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, retaining ∼98% of the SSR allelic diversity of the base collection. A similar level of diversity was captured within the mini‐core collection and the base collection with respect to 21 morphological traits, ploidy level, and geographic origin. The mini‐core collection demonstrated a wide range of variation in agronomic traits such as growth period, number of tubers, average tuber weight, and total yield per plant. This variation was considerable when compared with the variation observed for the same traits among the 10 lines or genotypes conventionally used in the breeding program at IITA, which were included in this study as checks. The selected mini‐core accessions could serve as a working collection to broaden the genetic variation for use in practical breeding programs, as well as in future genomic analyses aimed at the genetic improvement of D. rotundata in West Africa.

Medicinal practices of sacred natural sites: a socio-religious approach for successful implementation of primary healthcare services

Background: Sacred groves are model systems that have the potential to contribute to rural healthcare owing to their medicinal floral diversity and strong social acceptance. Methods: We examined this idea employing ethnomedicinal plants and their application documented from sacred groves across India. A total of 65 published documents were shortlisted for the preparation of database and statistical analysis. Standard ethnobotanical indices and mapping were used to capture the current trend. Results: A total of 1247 species from 152 families has been documented for use against eighteen categories of diseases common in tropical and sub-tropical landscapes. Though the reported species are clustered around a few widely distributed families, 71% of them are uniquely represented from any single biogeographic region. The use of multiple species in treating an ailment, high use value of the popular plants, and cross-community similarity in disease treatment reflects rich community wisdom to explore and apply available natural resources. Conclusions: Building on the findings, integration of the tradition in primary healthcare policy especially in AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) program has been recommended. This would embrace folk medicinal practices along with sustainable utilization of plant genetic resources in rapidly changing rural landscapes. Key words: AYUSH; Ethnomedicine; Medicinal plant; Sacred grove; Spatial fidelity; Tropical diseases

Development of national strategies for the conservation and sustainable utilization of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture in some countries of the Near East and North Africa

Development of national strategies for the conservation and sustainable utilization of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture in some countries of the Near East and North Africa

Fonio millet genome unlocks African orphan crop diversity for agriculture in a changing climate

Sustainable food production in the context of climate change necessitates diversification of agriculture and a more efficient utilization of plant genetic resources. Fonio millet (Digitaria exilis) is an orphan African cereal crop with a great potential for dryland agriculture. Here, we establish high-quality genomic resources to facilitate fonio improvement through molecular breeding. These include a chromosome-scale reference assembly and deep re-sequencing of 183 cultivated and wild Digitaria accessions, enabling insights into genetic diversity, population structure, and domestication. Fonio diversity is shaped by climatic, geographic, and ethnolinguistic factors. Two genes associated with seed size and shattering showed signatures of selection. Most known domestication genes from other cereal models however have not experienced strong selection in fonio, providing direct targets to rapidly improve this crop for agriculture in hot and dry environments.

The importance of preserving biodiversity for sustainable utilization of plant genetic resources

The life of a modern man is completely dependent on natural resources that mankind has been exploiting for a long period to a degree that far exceeds the limits of their sustainability. While the needs for the resources are rising rapidly over the last decades, their available quantities are rapidly decreasing. Growing deficiency of natural resources is becoming one of the biggest global challenges. Although the exploitation of natural resources and the preservation of biodiversity are the core of the two opposing processes, common to both is that they are the consequence of man's need for survival. Biodiversity on the planet today is seriously endangered due to the disappearance of species that is much faster and frequent than before. According to some estimates, every fourth species of mammals is threatened with a real danger of extinction, while about half of the plant species are before extinction. During long evolutionary history, the living world was constantly under numerous and enormous environmental pressures that, thanks to its genetic potential, managed to overcome. Given that today's environment is changing much faster than it was in the past, it is not known whether living beings possess an adaptive capacity that will be sufficient to adapt to new conditions. There are more and more scientific evidence that from the period of disappearance of dinosaurs 65 million years ago this is the era of the greatest extinction of species. Out of all biodiversity elements, genetic resources are the most exposed to unfavourable factors (climate change, new diseases and pests, industry, the spread of cities and settlements, intense infrastructure interventions, etc.). There are many facts that indicate that climate change in the future will increasingly affect the survival of plant species. The ever-present loss of germplasm and habitat requires much greater mobility in their protection. It is therefore necessary to take urgent steps to preserve these resources while the genetic diversity they possess is still available. Any further postponement of conservation would lead to even more pronounced disturbance of biodiversity, and this activity would be more uncertain in the future. For these reasons it is necessary to develop acceptable protection programs as soon as possible that will offer answers on where and how to protect the existing diversity. Because of their actual or potential value, this should be urgently done, as this would ensure long-term stable production of quality food and plant products, but also the risks associated with intensive plant production systems would be mitigated. In addition, increasing the diversity of cultivated crops would ensure continuous crop cultivation and improved food safety. Crop improvement, especially under climatic conditions, will increasingly be based on the diversity of plant genetic resources that have been relatively poorly used and inadequately preserved so far. In order to ensure sustainable food supply, it will be necessary to create new varieties with increased tolerance to adverse environmental conditions. Due to the richness of genetic diversity, plant genetic resources show very high adaptability in a fairly wide range of ecological conditions. Therefore, in order to preserve the adaptability of cultivated crops and future food safety, these resources will be needed more than ever. It seems that mankind finally realized that its survival on Earth is irrevocably conditioned by the preservation of biodiversity. Due to these reasons, in recent years increased social attention has been devoted to activities of raising public awareness on the importance of preserving biodiversity and the impact it has on the well-being of the human population. Sustainable use of agricultural diversity represents the exploitation of biological diversity to an extent and in a manner that does not cause biodiversity degradation. Such an approach would make possible to create a better and more equitable world in which economic, social, cultural and environmental factors would be in full balance. Preservation and sustainable use of agrobiodiversity must be based on sustainable agricultural practices that integrate development and environmental problems into one whole. The key to the preservation of biological diversity lies in the hands of science, which besides new knowledge on the living world must offer concrete projects for the protection and improvement of biodiversity. For preserving biodiversity will not only be sufficient to determine the criteria of vulnerability and listing of endangered species, but also establishment of effective management concept based on the rational use of biodiversity in a manner and extent that does not cause further deterioration. Preservation and sustainable use of genetic resources and traditional knowledge related to their use is a long-term need that goes beyond national interests.