Life on earth is dependent on plants, which are a crucial component of all ecosystems. Not only they are the basis of world food, but also can provide us fuel, clothes and medicine and play a major role in atmosphere and water purification and prevention of soil erosion. Plants are part of our natural heritage and it is our responsibility to preserve and protect them for future generations. It is estimated that up to 100,000 plants, representing more than one third of all the world's plant species, are currently threatened or face extinction in the wild. In Europe, particularly, biodiversity is seriously threatened. Biotechnological approaches offer several conservation possibilities which have the potential to support in situ protection strategies and provide complementary conservation options.

2.  Collection
 Conservation: In-situ & Ex-situ
 Evaluation, Cataloguing, Multiplication & Distribution
 Utilization of Germplasm

3. Germplasm:
Definition
 The hereditary materials transmitted to the offspring
through the germ cells (Wilkes, 1991).
 Total content of genes that serves as the raw material for
the breeder to develop different crops (duvick, 1982).
 Germplasm is the living genetic resources such as seeds or
tissue that is maintained for the purpose of animal and plant
breeding, preservation and other research uses (Williams,
1991).

4. of a particular crop
including individuals, populations, or
relatives
• Also referred to as genetic resources or gene pool or genetic stocks
• All the alleles of various genes, present in a crop species and its wild
relatives
with which a plant breeder has to initiate the breeding
program

5. Gene Pool
 Concept given by Harlan and deWet in 1971
 Collection of different genes within an interbreeding
population.
 Sum of all the alleles at all of the loci within the genes of a
population of a single species
 Large and diverse gene pool tends have increased
biological fitness

6. Primary Gene Pool (GP1)- Plants of the same species or of closely related
species
• Genes can be exchanged between lines simply by making normal crosses
Secondary Gene Pool (GP2)- Leads to partially fertility on crossing with GP1
• Includes plants that belong to related species
• Transfer of gene from such material to primary gene pool is possible but
difficult
Tertiary Gene Pool (GP3)- Leads to production of sterile hybrids on crossing
will primary gene pool
• Can be crossed with GP1, but the hybrids are sterile
• Transfer of gene from such material to primary gene pool is possible with the
help of special techniques
Quaternary gene pool (GP4)- Gene transfer is impossible by pollination or
tissue culture methods
• Requires genetic engineering techniques to transfer genes.
IncreasingReproductiveIsolation

7. Conservation of plant genetic resources
• For food security and agro-biodiversity.
• Valuable source of compounds to the medical, food and crop
protection industries.
• Breeding of new and more productive crops, resistant to biological
and environmental stresses through selection.
• Maintenance of Ecosystem.

8. Need for plant germplasm conservation
• Loss of genetic diversity among crop plant species.
• Human dependence on plant species for food and many different uses.
E.g. : Basic food crops, building materials, oils, lubricants, rubber and other
latexes, resins, waxes, perfumes, dyes fibers and medicines.
• Species extinction and many others are threatened and endangered –
deforestation.
• Great diversity of plants is needed to keep the various natural ecosystems
functioning stably – interactions between species.
• Aesthetic value of natural ecosystems and the diversity of plant species.

9. Loss of
Genetic
Diversity
Natural
calamities
Destruction
of natural
ecosystems
Pollution due
to natural/
anthropogenic
activities
Exotic weed
species
Over
exploitation
of forests for
fuelwood,
timber and
medicine
Changes in
Agrl
practices &
land use
Human
socio-
economic
changes

10. • Weismann first proposed this theory in 1883, it was later
published in 1892; The Germplasm: A Theory of Heredity.
• All-Union Institute of Plant Introduction established in1890
in St. Petersburg, Russia
• In 1920s began extensive worldwide collection by N. I. Vavilov & his
colleagues
• Later renamed as
(VIR)
• Vavilov gathered 50,000 samples of crop plants in over 50 countries
in 1920s and 1930s

11. • Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) introduced first international
newsletter on crop genetic resources in 1957
• In 1972, the UN Conference on the Human Environment, held in
Stockholm gave FAO responsibility of establishing an International
Genetic Research Programme.
• As a result, In 1974, International Board for Plant Genetic Resources
(IBPGR) was established by CGIAR
• In late 1991, International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI)
established as the independent successor of IBPGR
• Svalbard Global Seed Vault (SGSV) established in 2008 serves as
ultimate safety net for seed samples from world’s most important
collections
• It is located on the Norwegian Island in remote Arctic Svalbard archipelago,
about 1,300 Km from the North Pole

12. Currently, the Vault holds
more than 9,68,000
samples, originating from
almost every country in
the world.

13. • Dr. B.P. Pal truly focused attention on the use
of germplasm variability in crop improvement in
national context
• The publication of his paper, ‘The search for
new genes’, paved the way for augmenting
genetic diversity for use in plant breeding (Pal,
1937; Pal and Singh, 1943)
• Plant Exploration and Collection Unit was established in
1946 in the Division of Botany at the Indian Agricultural
Research Institute, New Delhi, and later raised to the status of a
Division of Plant Introduction in 1961

14. • Late Dr. Harbhajan Singh, an eminent and pioneer
plant explorer initiated germplasm collection and
significantly contributed in the field of plant genetic
resources
• Dr. Singh introduced large germplasm of wheat and
rice that contributed to the Green Revolution in India
• He organized a number of systematic explorations and
evaluation programmes in India and abroad
• National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources
(NBPGR) in 1976 along with two other Bureaus
concerned with animal (NBAGR) and fish genetic
resources(NBFGR) created by Indian Council of
Agricultural Research (ICAR)

15. • Landraces, or traditional varieties--the product of selection by
traditional cultures without a systematic and sustained Plant Breeding
effort.
• The term 'landrace', is widely applied to local, often genetically highly
variable, crop variants cultivated as part of traditional agriculture.
Frequently, a landrace includes a broad mixture of genotypes.
• Obsolete Varieties-- developed by systematic plant breeding effort,
once commercially propagated but are No more grown. eg.- K65, K68,
Ph591 wheat varieties.

16. • Varieties in Cultivation– Easiest to use, forms major part of
working collection and are good sources of genes for yield, quality,
etc.
• Can be introduced and directly released for cultivation in a new area.
• Ordinarily Highly homogeneous.
• Breeding Lines– Lines/ populations developed in breeding
programs, having narrow genetic base, but often contain valuable
gene combinations.
• Includes nearly Homozygous lines, mutant lines, and lines derived from
biotechnology programs.

17. • Wild forms and Wild relatives with the potential of providing
useful genes for resistance, stress tolerance, and even for quality and
yield traits.
• Wild forms– wild species from which crop species were directly derived
• Wild relatives – all other species, which are related to the crop species
by decent during their evolution.
• Specialized genetic stocks– Lines carrying gene mutations,
chromosomal aberrations, marker genes, etc. eg- a set of monosomic
or trisomic lines.
• Obtained spontaneously or, often, induced artificially.
• Useful in genetic analysis, and may be used in breeding programs as
well.

18. Collection
Conservation
Evaluation
Cataloguing
Multiplication & Distribution
Utilization
Activities in
Germplasm
Conservation

19. a) Exploration – Primary source of all
germplasm
b) Procurement – From agencies,
individuals, companies, etc.

20. Planning,
Making contacts with local research organization,
Gathering equipment and preparation,
Meeting with local researchers in area to be surveyed
Sorting out of collected samples,
Reporting to the Headquarters,
Preparation & publication of reports, and
Distribution/ conservation of collected samples

21. • Objectives
1. Collection of germplasm needed by breeder– consideration for specific traits
required
2. Collection of variability in the crops & their relatives for its conservation –
consideration for diverse types
• Areas of Collection – Centre of origin of concerned crop
Diversity/ Variability rich
Under explored
Tribal dominated
Hot spots
Threatened habitats

22. • Sampling Sites-
• Inaccessible areas of valleys, isolated hills, villages at the edge of
deserts, forests, mountains and isolated coastal belts may hold rich
genetic diversity, potential/ trait specific germplasm and wild relatives
• Cultivated species, sampling sites in order of preference should be
farmers’ field, backyard/ kitchen garden, threshing yard, farm store,
local village market, etc.
• Sites having stress situations viz. saline, drought, desert (cold and hot),
flood prone areas should be identified as target areas for collection of
respective trait-specific material.
• For biotic stress tolerant material, hot-spot areas should be visited to
collect healthy plants in fields where severe pest damage is evident.

23. • Sample Size- In general, random sampling should be made by
collecting single spike/panicle or fruit/berry/pod from at least 50 plants
throughout the field (Hawkes, 1976).
• 2000 and 4000 seeds for self & cross pollinated crops respectively
• Scion collection for budding and grafting- sample size will depend upon the
number of rootstocks available (not less than ten per sample)
• In case of large tubers, only a portion should be collected
• Cuttings and rooted suckers (e.g. grapes, ornamentals, etc.) 15-20 cuttings
may be sufficient.

24. • Sampling Procedure- Aim is to capture maximum genetic
diversity with minimum sample size and number
• Random Sampling – Without considering distinctiveness. Most
suited & collects whole range of variability
• Selective Sampling- Distinct forms are collected. May miss out
valuable genes
* Collection should be as diverse as possible with least duplication

25. Extensive germplasm variability collected during exploration and collection programmes at NBPGR
in collaboration with other ICAR Institutes and SAUs

26. Core
&
Mini-Core
collection
 A core collection is a chosen subset of large
germplasm collection that generally contains
about 10% of the total accessions and
represents the genetic variability of entire
germplasm collection
 to improve the use of genetic resources in
crop improvement programs
 A further subset of about 10% accessions from
the core subset is called Mini-Core

27. Base
Collection
100%
Large in number,
Low useCore
Collection
10%
Less in number,
Good useMini-
core
1%
Limited in
number,
Highly

28. Germplasm Conservation Strategies
In-situ – Conservation in their Natural Habitat
Protected areas Sacred forests & Lakes
Ex-situ – Conservation away from their Natural habitat
Seed Storage
Field gene bank
DNA Storage
Cryopreservation
Pollen Storage
Botanical/Zoological Gardens
In-vitro Storage
Biosphere Reserves
National Parks
Wildlife Sanctuary
Gene Sanctuary
On-Farm Conservation

29. • On- site conservation or Conservation in
its Natural Habitat
• By protecting the area from human
interference
• By defending the species from predators
and cleaning up the habitat
Biosphere Reserves
National Parks
Wildlife Sanctuary
Gene Sanctuary
On-Farm Conservation

30. Protected Areas of India (as on January, 2019)
No. Total Area (km2) Coverage % of Country
National Parks (NPs) 104 40,501.13 1.23
Wildlife Sanctuaries (WLSs) 550 1,19,775.55 3.64
Conservation Reserves (CRs) 87 4,286.31 0.13
Community Reserves 127 525.22 0.02
Protected Areas (PAs) 868 1,65,088.10 5.02

31. (National Wildlife Database, Aug. 2018)
(Photo: K. Ramesh, Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary)

33. (National Wildlife Database, Aug. 2018)
(Photo: Ajay Srivastava, Great
Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh)

35. Source: Wildlife Institute of India
(Photo: Bitapi C. Sinha, Nilgiri, Biosphere Reserve)

39. • Conserves the existing genetic diversity present, and allows the
evolution to continue
• New alleles and new gene combination would appear with time
• Biodiversity is protected
• Natural and cultural heritage protected
• Ecological integrity is maintained, managed and improved

40. • Its difficult to establish and very difficult to maintain
• Very prone to biotic and abiotic stresses
• Also require large area

41. • Off-site conservation or Conservation
away from its Natural Habitat
• Conservation of genes or plant
genotypes outside their environment
of natural occurrence, for current or
future use
Seed Storage
Field gene bank
DNA Storage
Cryopreservation
Pollen Storage
Botanical/Zoological Gardens

42. Seed Gene bank
- All gene banks are essentially seed banks
- Seed storage in containers of glass, plastic and tin for 50 to 100 year
• Seeds are very convenient for storage because they occupy smaller space than
whole plants.
• In the seed banks, there are three types of conservation, viz.,
1. Short term (Working Collections)
2. Medium Term (Active Collections)
3. Long Term (Base Collections)

43. Working collections are stored for short
term (>3-5 years) at 10-150C at 10%
Moisture.
 The accessions being actively used in crop
improvement programmes.
 These collections are maintained by the
breeders using them.

44. The accessions in an active collection
are stored at temperatures below
150C (often near 00C), and the seed
moisture is kept at 5%.
• The storage is for medium duration,
i.e., 10-15 years.
• These collections are used for
evaluation, multiplication and
distribution of the accessions.
Bergen Nat Acc of Arts

45. These consist of all the accessions present
in the germplasm of a crop, which are
stored at about -200C with 5% moisture
content; they are disturbed only for
regeneration.
• When the germination of an accessions
falls below, usually, 95% of its
germination at the start of storage, the
accession is regenerated.
• High quality orthodox seeds can maintain
good viability upto 100 years.

46. Crop Species Location of Gene Bank Name of Research Institute
Wheat Karnal Directorate of Wheat Research ( DWR)
Rice Cuttack Central Rice Research Institute( CRRI)
Potato Simla Central Potato Research Institute ( CPRI)
Cotton Nagpur Central Institute for Cotton Research ( CICR)
Pulses Kanpur Indian Institute for Pulses Research ( IIPR)
Oil seed crops Hyderabad Directorate of Oil Seed Research ( DOR)
Sorghum Hyderabad National Research Centre of Sorghum
Soybean Indore National Research Centre of Soybean
Groundnut Junagarh National Research Centre of Groundnut
Maize New Delhi Indian Agricultural Research Institute
Citrus Nagpur National Research Centre of Citrus
Sugarcane Coimbatore Sugarcane Breeding Institute

47. (Source : NBPGR)
 Total Accessions –
3,96,665 (Indigenous
3,16,470 & Exotic
80,194)
 From 981 Crops of 15
Crop Groups
 Belonging to 805
Genera & 1946 Species

48. Germplasm of Indian-origin conserved in CGIAR gene banks

49. Germplasm of Indian-origin conserved in major national gene banks

50. Crop-wise details of accessions listed in SGSV database

52. • Plant species that have recalcitrant seeds or do not produce seeds readily are
conserved in field gene banks
• Germplasm is maintained in the form of plants as a permanent living collection.
• Used as source of germplasm for species such as coconut, rubber, mango,
cassava, yam and cocoa.

53. Location/ Centre Plant Species Holdings
Issapur, New Delhi Low chilling and minor fruits 305
Shimla HP Temperate fruits species, species of Rosaceae 800
CAZRI, Jodhpur
Arid zone multi-purpose trees, Jojoba, Jatropha,
Acacias
350
Thrissur KR
Banana, Jackfruit, Pepper, Root and Rhizomatous
crops (8 Perennial ssp.)
539
Shilong, MEGA Banana, Guava, Ornamentals, Citrus, Passion Fruit 71
Himalayan Zone Fruits and Herbal ssp. 74
Lucknow, UP
Tamarind, Jamun, Bael, Jackfruit and other Medicinal
plant ssp.
400
Bhowali Medicinal plant ssp. 261

54. • Cryopreservation (Greek,krayos-frost) literally mean in the frozen state
• The principal involved in cryopreservation to bring the plant cells and
tissue cultures to a zero metabolism or non-dividing state by reducing
the temperature in the presence of cryoprotectants
• Cryopreservation involves storage of plant material at low temp
• (-196 °C) in liquid nitrogen or nitrogen vapor ( -154 to -196 °C)
• Requires limited space, involves very little maintenance and is
considered to be a cost-effective option

55. (Source: NBPGR)

56. (Source: NBPGR)

57. • For conservation of meristem cultures,
meristem or shoot tip banks are established.
• Germplasm of asexually propagated species
can be conserved in the form of meristem.
• Widely used for conservation and propagation
of horticultural species.
• In vitro method can be used in two ways.
1. storage of tissues under slow growth
conditions.
2. long-term conservation of germplasm by
cryo-preservation.

58. • Pollen storage was mainly developed as a
tool
especially
fruit free species
• The relatively of the specimen
required for a single accession.
• Exchange of germplasm through pollen
possesses
• Pollen storage alone
of a species

59. • Storage of total genomic information of
germplasm in the form of DNA libraries
• DNA Bank of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
contains over 22,000 samples of plant
genomic DNA, all stored at -80°C
• The NBPGR, New Delhi, India, has DNA
fingerprinted about 2,200 crop varieties, and
has expanding facilities for DNA banking.

60. • The role of most Botanical gardens in
conserving intra species diversity is
limited because most of these
conserve only a few accessions per
species or taxon.
• However, these play a greater role in
public awareness and education.
• Botanical gardens are mainly used to
display a great number of different
and exotic species.

62.  Screening of germplasm in respect of morphological genetical, economic,
biochemical, and physiological, pathological, and entomological
attributes
 List of descriptors (Characters) prepared by a team of experts from IPGRI,
Rome, Italy, are used for Evaluation
 Evaluation of germplasm is essential from following angles
 A) To identify gene to biotic and abiotic stresses
, , and and characters.
 B)To into various groups.

63.  Each Germplasm accession is given an
 In India, this number is (Indigenous collection),
(Exotic Collection) or (Indigenous wild)
 Information about Species, Variety name, place of origin, and various
other descriptors are recorded
 Gene Banks publish of their germplasm accession for
various crops

64.  Accession requested by breeders/researchers are Multiplied and
supplied to them, Usually without cost
 Only a limited quantity of seed drawn from active collection is
provided to each worker

65.  Utilized in three ways:
1. Directly released as a
variety
2. Subjected to Selection for
developing a variety
in
Hybridization Programme
Crop No. ofVarieties
Developed
Rice 56
Chickpea 9
Pigeon pea 48
Brassica campestris (Mustard) 21
B. Campestris (Toria) 15
Groundnut 17 (indigenous)
29 (introduction)
Sesame 31
Varieties developed through Selection

66. • The six commercial varieties viz. Allison,
Hayward, Abbott, Bruno, Monty, Tomuri
(male) of Kiwi fruit were introduced from
New Zealand and planted at Shimla in
1969. Subsequently, the multilocation
trials were conducted, production
technologies were standardized and
popularized at large scale.
Presently, the crop has occupied >1500 ha area in the Himalayan regions,
including Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh
and Sikkim. On an average, 35-40 kg/tree fruit yield has been recorded.
Source :

67. • Wheat - Ridley from Australia, Lerma Rojo and Sonora 64 from Mexico
• Rice - IR 8, IR 20, IR 36, IR 50 from Philippines
• Oat - Kent from Australia and Rapida from USA
• Pea - Bonneville and Early Badger from USA, Arkel from UK
• Cowpea - Pusa Barsati from Philippines and Pusa Phalguni from Canada
• French bean - Kentucky wonder from USA, Contender from USA
• Soybean - Bragg and Lee from USA
• Sunflower - Peredovik from erstwhile USSR
• Tomato - Sioux USA and La Bonita from USA, Dwarf Money maker from Israel
• Onion-: Pusa Ratnar and Early Grano from USA
• Cabbage - Pusa drumhead and Press from USA

68. REGISTRATION
OF PLANT
GERMPLASM
Plant Germplasm Registration
Committee
 Chairman - Deputy Director General (Crop
Science),ICAR, New Delhi
 Director, National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources
(NBPGR), New Delhi, as a permanent member
 A senior level scientist from NBPGR to function as
Member Secretary
 Need-based crop specialists with reference to the
material under consideration

69. REGISTRATION
OF PLANT
GERMPLASM
Eligibility criteria for Registration of
Germplasm
 Germplasm/genetic stock/elite material of field,
horticultural and other economic crops which is Unique,
Uniform, Stable and has potential attributes of
academic, scientific or commercial value shall be
registered
 Selections made from exotic germplasm can also be
registered
 Selection for unique traits from landraces may be
considered for registration

70. Source: ICAR-NBPGR National Gene Bank

71. Source: ICAR-NBPGR National Gene Bank

73. • To act as the nodal institute at national level for
(PGR) for agriculture, and to carry out related
research and human resources development, for

74. 1. To plan, organize, conduct and coordinate
of indigenous and exotic plant genetic resources.
2. To undertake introduction, of plant
genetic resources.
3. To crop genetic
resources and promote their use, in collaboration with other
national organizations.
4. To develop on plant genetic resources.
5. To conduct , undertake and , develop
and create on plant genetic resources

75. • Headquarters - New Delhi
• The Bureau has
,
• 10 Regional Stations

76. academicJournals

77. Concerns
 Threats on biodiversity have intensified in recent years
(Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005)
 Climate change could cause a marked contraction in the
distribution ranges of crop wild relatives (Jarvis et al., 2008)
 Very little work has been carried out to quantify the magnitude of
any trends regarding the threat and rate of genetic erosion of
agricultural biodiversity

78.  The only authoritative account of agricultural biodiversity status at
the global level is represented by the First and Second reports on the
State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and
Agriculture published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations (FAO, 1998, 2010).
 About 80,000 species of plants have been used by the human beings.
Of these, 30,000 species identified as edible and about 7,000 species
have been cultivated for food at one time or the other. Presently only
20 to 30 crops, are mainly used to feed the world (NAS, 1975).
Concerns

79.  Endangered germplasm from the threatened areas of diversity
needs to be salvaged and conserved for future use.
 Morphological and molecular characterization of germplasm to
enhance their utilization in crop improvement.
 Conservation, management and protection of bioresources
especially plant resources, through the participation of the people.

80.  Conservation and use of diversity needs to be addressed in a holistic
manner and to meet the demands of the users of germplasm.
 Research on core and mini-core collections and identification of new
diverse sources.
 Public awareness of the importance of Crop Wild Relatives and
neglected and underutilized species.

81. • Plant Genetic and of
Agriculture Production
• Regardless of developments in biotechnology such as tissue culture, gene transfer,
etc. , is
• In view of rapid loss of diversity, the gathering and Preservation of Germplasm has
become important and
• Germplasm preservation are not only hope for plant under threat of extinction, but
also on which lives are dependent