History, Achievements, and Current Status of Genetic Resources Conservation

Abstract

This paper has been written to look back at the early period of crop genetic resources conservation and inform readers of what has been achieved so far and what needs to be done in the future. The recognition of the value of crop genetic resources and early efforts at collecting germplasm by pioneer plant explorers, such as F.N. Meyer and N.I. Vavilov, and some of the strategies they employed are described. Historic examples of collection, evaluation, and utilization of genetic resources, notably by the late J.R. Harlan and other U.S. agronomists, are highlighted. The use of wild progenitors in improving biotic and abiotic stress tolerance has been covered. Previous and present status of genetic resources collection and storage, both ex situ in gene banks and in situ in the natural habitats of crops and their wild progenitors, is discussed. The creation of agrobiodiversity is a dynamic process and hence the work on conservation of genetic resources has to continue. With the increasing use of biotechnology in crop improvement, the value of germplasm already collected and conserved will substantially increase as researchers seek out new sources of useful genes in the future.

Status of the Global Cotton Germplasm Resources

“…Several prominent, but not all inclusive, early plant explorers include Carl Linnaeus, Charles Darwin, and Joseph Banks. The British in particular, under the leadership of Sir Joseph Banks, performed many collecting expeditions across the world and began preserving them at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew near London in the 18th century (Damania, 2008). More recently, Frank Meyer and Nikolai Vavilov represent two well-known plant explorers with major impact in the fi eld of genetic resource conservation.…”

“…More recently, Frank Meyer and Nikolai Vavilov represent two well-known plant explorers with major impact in the fi eld of genetic resource conservation. Descriptions of Meyer and Vavilov, in addition to a comprehensive review of plant genetic resources, are summarized by Damania (2008). Briefl y, in the early 1900s, the U.S. Offi ce of Foreign Seed and Plant Introductions sent Frank Meyer to East Asia to collect plant genetic resources with relevance to the United States.…”

The role of collection missions in gathering plant genetic resources material

“…In 1922In -1940, Nikolai and Vavilov with their team conducted numerous collecting missions in Russia and in various parts of the world, covering more than 50 countries in Asia, Africa, Central and South America, and collecting about 50,000 different plant genetic resources. Vavilov's work upon the origin and distribution of cultivated plant species has become the basis for many studies on the genetic resources of plants that are still being made to this day [IPGRI et al 1995, Damania 2008. The concern to preserve the abundance of nature with all its elements took the form of the Convention on Biological Diversity signed in 1992 [Podyma and Puchalski 2013].…”

The legacy of collecting missions to the valorisation of agro-biodiversity

“…They also established the Botanic Garden at St. Vincent in the Windward Islands in the Caribbean. (Damania, 2008;Walter and Cavalcanti, 2005;IPGRI et al, 1995).…”

“…Vavilov's works on the origin and geography of cultivated plant species, has formed the basis of much of the study of plant genetic resources that is performed today. Nowadays, Vavilovis considered to be the father of crop plant exploration and collection (Damania, 2008;IPGRI et al, 1995;Loskutov, 1999;Walter and Cavalcanti, 2005).…”