The loss of plant genetic resources has made necessary the development of new ex situ conservation methods. Advances in biotechnology provide new methods for plant germplasm conservation and evaluation. Biotechnological tools like in vitro culture, cryopreservation, and molecular markers offer a valuable alternative to plant diversity studies, management of genetic resources and ultimately cons...

1995). From a historic perspective, U.S. germplasm collections and U.S. forests were managed to promote and Germplasm collections are viewed as a source of genetic diversity to sustain agricultural production in terms of farm crops support crop improvement and botanical research, as well as support conservation efforts. The United States Department of Agriculture’s and timber. National Plant Ge...

The common fig tree (Ficus carica L.) is a Mediterranean crop with problematic cultivar identification. The recovery and conservation of possible local varieties for ecological production requires the previous genetic characterization of the available germplasm. In this context, 42 lines corresponding to 12 local varieties and two caprifigs, in addition to 15 reference samples have been fingerp...

The cost of conservation of germplasm stored in gene banks i.e., ex-situ collections has been studied in other parts of the world to estimate direct and indirect contributions by various actors involved in conservation. This is the first study of its kind in India done in collaboration with National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi. This was part of a sponsored research by Centre fo...

Genetic resources provide basic material for selection and improvement through breeding to ensure food security needs of the world’s rapidly rising population. Conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources are important components of ex-situ collections. Management of ex-situ collections requires creative and adaptive decisions tailored to operating conditions that are specific and co...

Genetic diversity of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), obtained by open or controlled pollination and selection, as well as from germplasm introductions from abroad, is being conserved, both in the field and in an in vitro gene bank. Nine hundred and eighty five germplasm accessions are being conserved under slow-growth conditions using an osmotic retardant medium. The major thrust given in t...

The olive is an important fruit species cultivated for oil and table olives in Italy and the Mediterranean basin. The conservation of cultivated plants in ex situ collections is essential for the optimal management and use of their genetic resources. The largest ex situ olive germplasm collection consists of approximately 500 Italian olive varieties and corresponding to 85% of the total Italian...