Principles of Plant Genetics and Breeding

104 CHAPTER 6
and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United
Nations (UN) is credited with the initial efforts to promote
genetic conservation, and assistance in establishing
the International Board of Plant Genetic Resources
(IBPGR) based in the FAO in Rome, Italy. Founded
in 1974, the IBPGR is funded by donor countries,
development banks, and foundations. It is a center in
the Consultative Group of International Agriculture
Research (CGIAR). The primary role of this board is to
collect, preserve, evaluate, and assist with the exchange
of plant genetic material for specific crops all over the
world.
A major sponsor of these genetic conservation activities
is the International Agricultural Research Centers
(IARCs) strategically located throughout the tropics
(see Chapter 25). Gene banks at these centers focus on
starchy crops that feed the world (wheat, corn, rice,
potato, sorghum). These crops are often grown with
high-tech cultivars that have narrow genetic bases as a
result of crop improvement.
There are other regional- and country-based plant
germplasm conservation programs. The EUCARPIA
(European Association for Plant Breeding Research),
started in 1960, serves Europe and the Mediterranean
region. Similarly, the Vegetable Gene Bank at the National
Vegetable Research Station in the UK was established in
1981 to conserve vegetable genetic resources.
Palmer
Hilo
Western
North Central
North Eastern
Southern
Corvallis
Davis
Parlier
Riverside
Pullman
Aberdeen
Ft. Collins
Figure 6.2 The four regional germplasm jurisdictions defined by the USDA.
An example of a national germplasm
conservation system
The US plant genetic conservation efforts are coordinated
by the National Plant Germplasm System
(NPGS). Over 400,000 accessions exist in the inventory
of the NPGS in the form of seed and vegetative material.
In August, 2004, the composition of the holdings was
205 families, 1,644 genera, and 10,205 species, for a
total of 460,799 accessions. Most of these materials are
predominantly landraces and unimproved germplasm
from overseas sources. The accessions in the NPGS are
estimated to increase at a rate of 7,000–15,000 new
entries per year. The system has certain component
units with specific functions as follows.
Plant introduction
Located in Beltsville, Maryland, the Plant Introduction
Office is part of the Plant Genetics and Germplasm
Institute of the USDA-ARS. Each entry is given a plant
introduction (PI) number, but this unit does not maintain
any plant material collection. The responsibilities
to maintain, evaluate, and release plant materials are
assigned to four regional Plant Introduction Stations
(Western, North Central, North Eastern, and Southern)
(Figure 6.2). The Plant Quarantine Facility of USDA
Sturgeon Bay
Ames
Urbana
College Station
Columbus
Griffin
Geneva
Beltsville
Washington, DC
Oxford
Miami
Mayaguez, PR