The Extent of Use of Plant Genetic Resources in Research—A Literature Survey

Abstract

Our aim was to assess the level of use of conserved plant genetic resources (PGR) in crop genetic research. To do this, we analyzed in detail the reports from four internationally recognized journals published in 1996. These journals were Crop Science, Euphytica, Plant Breeding, and Theoretical and Applied Genetics Our results indicate that about 23% of the articles published in these journals reported work conducted with material that originated in an ex situ PGR collection or was collected directly in the field. We also analyzed our results to determine the range of species and research topics involved, the sources of materials used, and the users of PGR for research. Of the material used, 80% was accessed from ex situ germplasm collections housed in genebanks in 27 countries and seven centers of the CGIAR. The rest of the studies utilized material gathered directly in the field. Almost all work was produced at national research centers and universities; very little work from private industry was published in the journals covered. Just under 20% of the institutions represented by authors were located in developing countries. Work published involved 112 species and included assessments of genetic diversity among accessions (42% of the studies), studies of the inheritance of biotic stress resistance (29%), taxonomic and phylogenetic analyses (16%), as well as cytologic, molecular and conservation research. Our research demonstrates a significant use of conserved material in research.

La economía de la conservación de la agrobiodiversidad para la seguridad alimentaria ante el cambio climático

“…PAGR are the main input in crop and livestock breeding and seed improvement for industrial as well as subsistence-based farming (Dudnik et al, 2001;Smale and Day-Rubenstein, 2002). It is often overlooked, though, that only the conservation of a broad range of PAGR will allow full exploration of these new technological opportunities (Hoissington, 1999;Thrupp, 2000).…”

Who is sowing our seeds? A systematic review of the use of plant genetic resources in research

“…The majority of scientific outputs have been in peerreviewed journals, with 5 journals publishing a total of 63 of the articles. Two of these journals, Euphytica and Theoretical and Applied Genetics, were journals that Dudnik et al (2001) and Dulloo et al (2013) searched to evaluate the patterns of use of plant genetic resources, however, the total number of peer-reviewed journals that published papers using UKVGB material highlights the need for broad searches of the literature, particularly when assessing the usage of germplasm from a single genebank. The use of UKVGB material has increased significantly over time, with 2015 producing the most publications to date.…”

“…In order to assist potential users, it is often helpful to know how seed requested from the collections has been used, and to be able to direct users to published datasets. In general there is a lack of information regarding the use of crop genetic resources and related outcomes (FAO 2010), with only a few published reviews, such as those by Dudnik et al (2001), Rubenstein et al (2006) and Dulloo et al (2013), assessing the impact of crop genetic resources in a research context. Furthermore, two of these reviews (Dudnik et al 2001;Dulloo et al 2013) focused on publications from four peerreviewed journals rather than conducting a comprehensive assessment, and therefore omitted many other publications and outputs using genebank material.…”

“…In general there is a lack of information regarding the use of crop genetic resources and related outcomes (FAO 2010), with only a few published reviews, such as those by Dudnik et al (2001), Rubenstein et al (2006) and Dulloo et al (2013), assessing the impact of crop genetic resources in a research context. Furthermore, two of these reviews (Dudnik et al 2001;Dulloo et al 2013) focused on publications from four peerreviewed journals rather than conducting a comprehensive assessment, and therefore omitted many other publications and outputs using genebank material. An overview of the activities of the genebank at IPK Gatersleben, Germany was provided by Hammer et al (1994) in a description of the achievements of the genebank over a fifty year period.…”

Crambe tataria: actions for ex situ conservation

“…Ex situ conservation provides an important insurance against the loss of plant genetic resources, with a key role to play in terms of preservation programmes of endangered plants (Dudnik et al 2001;Guerrant et al 2004;Namoff et al 2010). The storage of seeds or curation of living plant material is one of the most valid and widespread methods of ex situ conservation; moreover, in recent years, in vitro techniques, including seed germination, micropropagation by meristem culture and callus culture have been recognized to complement conventional conservation methods (Sugii and Lamoureux 2004;Maunder et al 2004;Chandra et al 2006;Trusty et al 2009;Piovan et al 2010).…”