Profile
Settings
Refer your friends
Sign out
The loss of Genetic resources is happening at an exponential rate. This loss has become a major source of concern as humanity may lose the potential to adapt to new environmental conditions. This has brought about the study of biodiversity and genetic resources for years.
Biodiversity simply refers to the term used to describe the Earth’s large variety of life. It describes all the species in an ecosystem. Over thousands of years, different species have evolved and pose unique traits that differentiate them from others. These distinctive features are what scientists use to differentiate one species from another.
What is a plant genetic resource?
Plant genetic resources are the foundation of agriculture and food security. In gen-rich countries like India, the ICAR-NBPGR( ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources) serves as the modal institution at the national level that manages PGR. It functions under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) umbrella located in New Delhi.
Plant genetic diversity is one of the main resources of food for humanity. It gives farmers the opportunity to develop new cultivars with desirable features. Since the beginning of agriculture, genetic diversity has been harnessed to meet subsistence food requirements since the dawn of agriculture.
Like many countries, India must protect its genetic resources through germplasm exchange with foreign countries. With the change in climate conditions, it has become expedient to focus on conserving genetic resources.
Why are agricultural genetic resources significant?
In the early 20s, it was predicted that the world’s population would have increased to over 8 billion people by 2050. Here we are in 2022 with 7.9 billion people already, with countries like China(18.47%) and India( 17.70%) leading the world’s population. With a growing population, the need to produce more food is becoming a global crisis.
A global effort to gather, document, and use plant genetic resources are crucial to a thriving global fight against hunger.
Types of plant genetic resources
Genetic resources can also be referred to as germplasm. The germplasm of a plant refers to the total hereditary material useful in research, crop breeding, and conservation efforts. The types of plant germplasm include:
Land racers: These types of plant genetic resources refer to primitive cultivars selected and cultivated over the years by farmers. They have a high genetic density, making them highly resistant to abiotic and biotic stresses. They are, however, low yielders and less uniform. It can be collected in maize, millet, and maize.
- Modern Cultivars: They are known as advanced cultivars. They are high-yielding and uniform compared to the land racers and obsolete cultivars. This type of plant genetic resource is majorly used as parents during breeding programs. They, however, have low adaptability and a narrow genetic base.
Obsolete cultivators: These types of plant genetic resources are improved varieties of land racers. They are known for their attractive grain colour. They are good plant genetic resources and have been used for wheat breeding programs, especially in countries like India. These varieties are no longer cultivated. Wheat varieties included: K65, K68, and Pb 591.
Advanced Breeding lines: Advanced lines, cultures, and stocks are pre-released plants that plant breeders have established for use in modern scientific plant breeding. They include advanced cultures that aren’t ready to be released to farmers just yet. They include plants with modified germplasm to create parental material to develop new varieties or hybrids. They are an essential part of the gene pool for numerous economic characteristics.
Wild forms/ wild relatives: Wide forms are plant species from which crop species are generated. They are easy to crossbreed with endangered species. However, most wide forms of crops have gone extinct. Wild relatives are wild with species that share shared ancestry with crops and can easily cross with cultivated species. Wild relatives have a high resistance to abiotic( drought, salinity, frost, etc.) and biotic( diseases and insects) stresses.
Conservation of plant genetic resources
Maintaining biodiversity and the conservation of genetic resources is a global responsibility. In 1983, the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations established the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture to discuss how genetic resources for agriculture can be preserved. The Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture International Treaty, adopted in 2001, is another powerful tool to conserve plant genetic resources.
India is a country rich in biodiversity. On the 5th of June, 1992, India was among the countries that signed the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity which took place in Rio de Janeiro. Also, in 2002, the Biological Diversity Act was enacted by the Parliament of India to preserve biological diversity in India.
There are two main methods of germplasm conservation.
In-situ conservation: Refers to the conservation of plant genetic resources under natural conditions. Areas become natural parks to preserve germplasm. NBPGR, New Delhi, uses this method in Meghalaya for citrus and in North-Eastern regions for Saccharum and Musa.
Ex-situ conservation: Refers to the conservation of plant genetic resources in the gene bank. It is the most practical method for the conservation of germplasm.
ICAR-NBPGR collects germplasm from different sources and conserves it in the Genebank. It evaluates germplasm for unique traits and provides materials to develop varieties for farmers.
Conclusion
This article looked into biodiversity and the conservation of plant genetic resources. The Indian government, through the Biological Diversity Act enacted in 2002, continues to find ways to promote biological diversity in India with a particular interest in preserving plant genetic resources. The activities of the ICAR-NBPGR include collection, evaluation, conservation, and documentation of PGR.
The ICAR-NBPGR has ten regional stations located in various agro-climatic zones in India. It is linked to the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). The National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources collects germplasm from different sources and preserves it in the Genebank.
