The variability among living organisms from all sources including terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are a part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems

1. Germplasm Conservation- In Situ, Ex situ and On-Farm;
Short, Medium & Long term Conservation Strategies for
Conservation of Orthodox Seed and Vegetatively propagated
Crops;
Registration of plant genetic sources.

3. Biodiversity - Definition
 The variability among living organisms from all
sources including terrestrial, marine, and other
aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes
of which they are a part; this includes diversity
within species, between species and of ecosystems.

4. Biodiversity can be observed
at three levels
1) Genetic diversity:-
Each member of any animal or plants species
differs widely from other individual in its genetic makeup.
2) Species diversity :-
Number of species of plants and animals that are
present in a region constitutes its species diversity.
3) Ecosystem diversity :-
There are large variety of different ecosystems on
earth. Each having their own complement of distinctive
interlinked species based on the differences in the habitat.

5. Bio-Geographic Zones

6. Hot Spots

7. Biodiversity is essential to -
1. To ensure the production of 5F’s
(Food, Fruit, Fiber, Fuel, Fodder)
2. To maintain other ecosystem services
3. To allow adaptation to changing
environmental conditions including-
Climate, Temp., Rain, Weather change
4. To sustain rural peoples' livelihoods
status

8. Germplasm Conservation
 The germplasm has to be maintained in such
a state that there is minimum risk for its loss
and that either it can be prepared for planting
with relative ease; this is called germplasm
conservation.
OR
 The management of human use of the
biosphere so that it may yield the sustainable
benefit to present generations, while
maintaining its potential to meet the needs

9. Why Conservation ?
 Conservation of plant genetic resources is necessary for food
security and agro-biodiversity. Genetic diversity provides
options to develop through selection and breeding of new
and more productive crops, resistant to biological and
environmental stresses (Rao, 2004).
 Biodiversity provides a valuable source of compounds to the
medical, food and crop protection industries. For more food, it
will be necessary to make better use of a broader range of
genetic diversity across the glob. Many plant species are now
in danger of becoming extinct (Panis and Lambardi, 2005).
 Genetically uniform modern varieties are being replaced with
highly diverse local cultivars and landraces of traditional
agro-ecosystems. Deforestation, urbanization, pollution,
habitat destruction, fragmentation and degradation, spread of
invasive alien species, climate change, changing life styles,
globalization, market economies, over-grazing and changes
in land-use pattern are contributing indirectly to the loss of
diversity (Pitman and Jorgensen, 2002; Rao, 2004).

10. Objectives (Long term)
 1. To improve the effectiveness of sustainable management
and conservation of biodiversity through adequate
conservation, use and handling of genetic resources.
 2. To increase the availability of diversified species with poor
seed storability for use in breeding programmes (seed
supply).
 3. To improve medium and long term conservation
technologies of genetic resources (genetic conservation).
 4. To build and strengthen research capabilities in
developing countries through training and transfer of
knowledge and technology and the establishment of an
informal network of researchers on agriculture seeds from
developing and developed countries (technology transfer
and sharing of experience).

11.  1. Scientific aspects: To characterize the seed storage
behaviour (recalcitrant, intermediate or short lived orthodox)
of specific, valuable species and to recommend regimes for
their short and medium term storage.
 2. Seed supply aspects: To develop effective
technologies/methods for seed collecting, transport, storage,
testing and seed health aspects.
 3. Genetic conservation aspects: To develop guidelines for
genetic conservation of seeds of crops species (or groups of
species).
 4. Technology transfer: To produce a publication and
practical guidelines for the handling of crops seed species,
dealing with all aspects from ripeness, harvest and storage to
Objectives (Immediate)

12. Types of Germplasm
1. Land Races
2. Obsolete Varieties
3. Varieties in Cultivation
4. Breeding Lines
5. Special Genetic Stocks
6. Wild form and Wild Relatives

13. Germplasm Conservation
The Germplasm has to be maintained in such a state that
there is minimum risk for its loss and that either it can be
planted directly in the field or it can be prepared for planted for
planting with relative ease.
 Ex-situ Conservation - Germplasm conservation is attempted
outside or away from its natural habitat.
 In-situ Conservation – Conservation of germplasm in its
natural habitat or in area where it grows naturally.
 On-farm Conservation One of new approach to in situ
conservation of genetic resources, focusing on conserving
cultivated plant species in farmers' fields. Its nothing but “The
sustainable management of genetic diversity of locally
developed traditional crop varieties, with associated wild and
weedy species or forms, by farmers within traditional
agricultural, horticultural or agri-silvicultural cultivation systems"

16. In – Situ / Ex – Situ
In – Situ Ex – Situ
Merits Not only conserve
the genetic diversity
its also allows
evolution to genetic
with climate
Its not allows evolution to
genetic with climate
its allows new
alleles and new
gene combination
would appear with
time
No any new gene
combination due to fix
environment condition
Demerit
s
Its difficult to
establish and very
difficult to maintain
Required costly and well
occupied lab
Very prone to biotic

17. Types of Ex-situ conservation
1. Seed Gene bank
- All gene banks are essentially seed banks
- Seed storage in containers of Glass, Plastic and Tin for 50 to
100 year
 Roberts (1973) has classified seeds into two groups for
storage purpose ; viz.
 Orthodox- Seeds which can be dried to low moisture content
(5%) and stored at low temperature without losing their viability
for long periods of time. More than 90% of plants spp. Belong
to this group.
 Recalcitrant- Seeds which show very drastic loss in viability
with a decrease in moisture content below 12 - 30% are known
as recalcitrant seeds- cocoa, coconut, mango, tea, coffee,
rubber, jackfruit and oil palm seeds.
 Such seeds cannot be conserved in seed banks and,

18. Types conservation
 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)

19. Short term storage: (working collections )
1. Short term storage:
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.

20. Medium term storage: (Active collections )
Medium Term storage: 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.
 Active collections are usually
maintained by multiplying the
seeds of their own accessions.
 But from time to time, base
collection material should be used
for regeneration of these
collections.

21. 3. Long term storage: 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.
 Germination tests are done
every 5-10 years.
 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
Long term storage: (Base collections )

22. Seed Gene Bank
Disadvantages
 Seeds of recalcitrant
species cannot be stored
in seed banks.
 Failure of power supply
may lead to loss of
viability and thereby loss
of germplasm.
 It requires periodical
evaluation of seed
viability.
 After some time
multiplication is essential
to get new or fresh seeds
Advantages
• Large number of
germplasm samples
can be conserved in a
very small space.
• Handling of
germplasm is easy
• Germplasm is
conserved under
pathogen and insect
free environment.

23. 2. Field Gene Bank
(Plant gene bank, ex-situ
conservation)
 Those plant species that have
recalcitrant seeds or do not
produce seeds readily are
conserved in field gene banks.
 In field gene banks, germplasm
is maintained in the form of
plants as a permanent living
collection.
 Field gene banks are often
established to maintain working
collections of living plants for
experimental purposes.
 They are used as source of
germplasm for species such as

24.  The conservation of germplasm in field genebank
involves the collecting of materials and planting in the
orchard or field in another location. Field genebank has
traditionally been used for perennial plants, including:
 Species producing recalcitrant seeds;
 Species producing little or no seeds;
 Species that are preferably stored as clonal material;
 Species that have a long life cycle to generate breeding
and/or planting material.
 Field genebanks are commonly used for such species
as cocoa, rubber, coconut, coffee, sugarcane, banana,
tuber crops, tropical and temperate fruits, vegetatively
propagated crops (e.g. wild onion and garlic) and forage
grasses (e.g. sterile hybrids or shy seed producers).

25.  Many important varieties of field, horticultural and forestry
species are either difficult or impossible to conserve as
seeds (i.e. no seeds are formed or if formed, the seeds are
recalcitrant) or reproduce vegetatively. Hence they are
conserved in field genebanks(FGB).
 FGBs provide easy and ready access to conserved material
for research as well as for use. For a number of plant
species, the alternative methods have not been fully
developed so that they can be effectively used (Ramanatha
Rao and Riley 1995; Ramanatha Rao et al. 1998).
 It is one of the options of a complementary strategy for the
conservation of germplasm of many plant species. At the
same time, efforts to develop and refine other methods,
such as in vitro conservation and on – farm conservation,
must continue (Ramanatha Rao et al. 1998).
 There is a possibility that a few well-managed gardens can

26. Field Gene Bank
Disadvantages
 Field gene banks cannot
cover the entire genetic
diversity of a species. It can
cover only a fraction of the
full range of diversity of a
species.
 The germplasm in field gene
banks is exposed to
pathogens and insects and
some-times is damaged by
natural disasters such as
bush fires, cyclones, floods,
etc.
 Maintenance of germplasm
Advantages
 It provides
opportunities for
continuous
evaluation for
various economic
characters.
 It can be directly
utilized in the
breeding
programme.

27. Field Gene Banks in INDIA
Location/ Centre Plant Species Holdings
Issapur, NewDelhi Low chilling and minor fruits 305
Shimla HP Temperate fruits species, species of Rosaceae 800
CAZRI, Jodhpur
Arid zone multipurpose 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
Lakhnow, UP
Tamarind, Jamun, Bael, Jackfruit and other
Medicinal plant ssp.
400
Bhowali Medicinal plant ssp. 261

28. CRYOPRESERVATION
 Cryopreservation involves storage
of plant material at low temp. ( -
196 °C), in liquid nitrogen or
nitrogen vapor ( -154 to -196 °C).
 At this temperature the cell
division and metabolic processes
stop.
 Thus plant material can be stored
for longer period without
alteration.
 Cryopreservation of those species
that can easily be regenerated
into whole plants is a promising
option for the safe, long-term
storage of germplasm.
 Cryopreservation requires limited
space, involves very little
maintenance and is considered to
be a cost-effective option.

29. MERISTEM GENE BANKS
 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.

31. POLLEN STORAGE/POLLEN GENE
BANKS
 Pollen storage was mainly developed
as a tool for controlled pollination of
asynchronous flowering plants
especially fruit free species.
Advantage
 The relatively small quantity of the specimen
required for a single accession.
 Exchange of germplasm through pollen
possesses fewer quarantine problems
compared with seed or other propagules.
Disadvantage
 Pollen storage alone cannot conserve the
cytoplasmic genetic diversity of a species.
 There is need to assess the potential
drawbacks of excluding maternal genes and
feasibility of ovule storage and in-vitro
fertilization techniques.
 In addition effective sample techniques to
cover a population or gene pool are needed.

32. Tissue culture conservation

33. DNA STORAGE / DNA GENE BANKS
 Storage of DNA is in principle,
simple to carry out and widely
applicable in the lab.
 Genetic engineering has broken
down the crossability barriers.
 Transgenic plants incorporating
genes from virus, bacteria, fungi
and even mice are reality now.
 Such efforts have lead to storage of
total genomic information of
germplasm in the form of DNA
libraries.
 However, strategies and
procedures have to be developed
on how to use the material stored
in the form of DNA.
 Therefore, the role and value of this

34. Home Gardens
 Home gardens conservation is similar to on-
farm conservation but the scale is much
smaller.
 Home gardens tend to contain a wide
spectrum of species, such as vegetables,
fruits, medicinal plants and species.
 Home gardens, as a single unit has very little
value in terms of conservation, but a
community of them in a given area may
contribute significantly to the conservation
and direct use of genetic diversity.
 Most of such diversity could be somewhat
unique/rare, as the people tend to grow
unique materials in their gardens and also
under utilized or undomesticated species.
 However, the system is vulnerable to change
in management practices.
 Home gardens are also known as testing
grounds for farmers for some of the wild
and semi-wild species.

35. Botanical Gardens
 Botanical gardens aims at
maintaining essential ecological
processes and life support systems
preserve genetic diversity and ensure
sustainable utilization of species and
ecosystem.
 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.
 There is a possibility that a few well
managed gardens lay emphasis on

36. Herbal Gardens
 Herbal gardens
resemble botanical
gardens except that
these maintain
medicinal and aromatic
plants.
 Herbal gardens are
getting more
importance these days
because medicinal and
aromatic plant group is
most threatened due to
their over-exploitation

37. On-farm
conservation
 On-farm conservation which the CBD defines as “A
form of in situ conservation in the place where the
domesticated or cultivated species have developed
their distinctive properties.”
 There is an urgent need to also pay attention to the
many economically important wild species that are
neither on-farm nor in protected areas. The
populations of many of these wild species are under
heavy pressure due to over-exploitation, habitat
degradation and invasive species and agricultural
biodiversity on farms and in forests.
 Their effective in situ conservation will be difficult to
accomplish and therefore presents a huge challenge to
conservationists.

38.  To maintenance of domesticates such as landraces or
local crop varieties in farmers’ fields, often referred to
as ‘on-farm’ conservation (Maxted et al. 2002), ‘in
agro’ or ‘inter situ’ (Blixt 1994).
 Trees may also be transplanted from native habitats
and managed within an in situ on-farm system using
traditional sylvicultural techniques. The material is
effectively managed within traditional farming systems
by local farmers.
 Conservation of crop plants and primitive
cultivars/landraces only in on-farm.
 strengthening the scientific basis of on-farm
conservation and management of local landraces,
horticultural crops and wild fruit species.

39. NBPGR
New
Delhi

40. Svalbard Seed Bank, Norway
 To preserve gene diversity of major food crops,
international Institutions have established a series of green
gene banks, which store samples of genetic material of
various strains of each plant species.
 Svalbard Seed Bank is meant as a sort of safety net, a
reserve of last resort and the vault functions like a genetic
safety deposit box. It stores duplicate specimens from gene
banks worldwide and while the Svalbard seed bank owns
the building, the individual depositor owns the contents of
• The Svalbard Global Seed Vault on
February 26, 2008 with the
construction of the vault financed
entirely by Norwegian Government.
The operational cost is currently
shared by Norway and the Global
Crop Diversity Trust.

41. The seed bank is
located in an old
copper mine on remote
northern island of
Spitsbergen, Norway.

42.  The facility currently has a capacity to conserve 4.5
million seed samples. With approximately 1.5 million
distinct seed samples of agricultural crops thought to
exist, the Svalbard Seed Bank can store roughly
three of each sample. Under the current temperature
conditions in the vault (temperatures similar to those
in a kitchen freezer) the seed samples can remain
viable to begin new crops for anywhere from 2000 to
20,000 years.

43. On farm conservation
 On farm conservation involves the
maintenance of traditional crop cultivars
(land races) by farmers within traditional
agricultural system.
 It is based on the recognition that farmers
have improved and grown genetic diversity.
This process will still continue among many
farmers in spite of social economic and
technical changes. Farmers should be
encouraged to continue their land races by
agricultural development policies that
enhance incentives to continue to maintain
land races.
 Given the role of farmers on farm
conservation, meeting development goals
such as increased farm income is critical.
 In a recent conclusion study by NBPGR with
IRRI, Philippines and GKV, Raipur in Baster
area of MP suggested that on farm
conservation of rice genetic resources is a
compliment to ex-situ conservation in tribal
area of Baster Plateau which can be
motivated for maintaining crop diversity
provided it is a viable option and for
conservation

44. Conservation Vegetativaly Propagated
Crops
Conservation of
vegetativaly
propagated
crops
Ex-situ as well
In-situ and on-
farm condition

45. Conservation Vegetativaly propagated
crops

46. Germplasm
 1. Plant Germplasm Registration Committee
 2. Nodal Agency
 3. Application Form
 4. Eligibility Criteria for Registration
 5. Germplasm Ineligible for Registration
 6. Screening of Application(s) and their
Consideration by the PGRC
 7. Validity of Registration
 8. Publication of Registered Germplasm
 9. Conservation, Maintenance and Sustainable
Utilization of Registered Germplasm
 10. De-registration

47. Procedure For Submission Of
Proposal / Germplasm Material
 1. Submission of Application and
Germplasm
 2. Guidelines for Submitting the Orthodox
Seed Germplasm
 3. Guidelines for Submission of
Recalcitrant / Intermediate Seed
Germplasm
 4. Guidelines for Submission of
Propagules

48. National Active Germplasm Sites

52. In India,
Germplasm Maintains and
Exchange
 For Agriculture and Horticulture Crops –
NBPGR, New Delhi (1976)
 For Mediational and Aromatics Plants
(Botanical Plants) – BSI, Kolkata, WB
(1890)
 For Forest Trees – FRI, Dehradun, UKD

53. References
 Maxted, N., J.G. Hawkes, B.V. Ford-Lloyd and J.T. Williams.
1997. A practical model for in situ genetic conservation
complementary conservation strategies. Pp. 339-367 in Plant
Genetic Conservation: The In Situ Approach (N. Maxted, B.V.
Ford-Lloyd and J.G. Hawkes, eds.). Chapman and Hall, London.
 Harlan, J.R. 1975. Crops and Man. First Edition. American
Society of Agronomy and Crop Science Society of America,
Madison, Wisconsin.
 HD Upadhyaya, CLL Gowda and DVSSR Sastry, 2008. Plant
genetic resources management: collection, characterization,
conservation and utilization, An Open Access Journal published
by ICRISAT, INDIA.
 http://lloydkahnongoing.blogspot.in/2011/12/svalbardseedbank.h
tml
 GUIDELINES for REGISTRATION OF PLANT GERMPLASM
(revised, 2014)

54.  Brown, A.H.D. 1999. The genetic structure of crop
landraces and the challenge to conserve them in situ
on farms. In: Brush, S.B. (ed.), Genes in the Field:
Conserving plant diversity on farms. Lewis Publishers,
Boca Raton, FL, USA. pp. 29–48.
 Maxted, N., Guarino, L., Myer, L. and Chiwona, E.A.
2002. Towards a methodology for on-farm
conservation of plant genetic resources. Genetic
Resources and Crop Evolution 49(1):31–46.
 Mohd Said Saad and V. Ramanatha Rao (2001).
Establishment and management of field genebank . A
Training Manual, IPGRI-APO, Serdang
References