ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE ECP/GR BRASSICA WORKING GROUP

Within the European Cooperative Programme for Crop Genetic Resources Networks (ECP/GR), a Working Group on Brassica has been active since 1991. Representatives of 28 countries, chosen among curators, breeders and other Brassica scientists, regularly meet, share information, propose coordinated activities and develop recommendations for European Brassica genetic resources.

A tangible outcome of the Group’s activity is the implementation of a European Brassica Database (Bras-EDB), managed by the Centre for Genetic Resources, the Netherlands (CGN), which currently includes records of collections maintained within 20 countries.
The database has shown its value as a tool in developing core collections, in the identification of duplicates in the European collections and in defining a sound policy of safety duplication.

Studies on regeneration and rationalization of the collections are carried out by the Group and their results aim at improving the management of Brassica gene diversity and reducing the cost of its conservation.

Recommendations from the Group are expected to give impetus to an appropriate conservation and use of the rich European gene pool of wild Brassicas.

During its six years of existence, the Brassica Working Group has brought together many institutions and their expertise and has offered them a continuing framework for creative collaboration.

International Symposium Brassica 97, Xth Crucifer Genetics Workshop

L. Maggioni

Genetic resources, database, regeneration, core collection, in situ conservation, wild brassicas

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1998.459.27