Articles
THE GENETIC RESOURCES OF TEMPERATE FRUIT TREES IN THE TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL ZONES OF ASIA, THEIR CONSERVATION AND UTILIZATION FOR BREEDING
Article number
872_16
Pages
139 – 146
Language
English
Abstract
Planned conservation and use of local plant genetic resources is of prime importance for food security – as it permits small-scale farmers of developing countries to have permanent access to seed and planting material, adapted to their region, selection of improved new varieties, and moreover to protect fruit species against pests and introduction of new varieties which cause the loss of local varieties or genotypes, hence leading to the erosion of genetic diversity.
The Central Asia Countries represent one of the most important regions of our planet for temperate fruit genetic resources, as centres of origin of many species.
To ensure the maintenance of these resources, it is necessary to protect the vital genetic diversity of the important crops, promote and strengthen the conservation of locally adapted varieties and genetic resources at the farm and local community level, and ecosystems where the ancestral are living.
Such conservation would complement, but not be an alternative to, national and regional gene banks.
Locally conserved varieties are more vulnerable to disaster than nationally or regionally held genetic resources.
Thus it is also necessary to develop early warning systems to monitor qualitative and quantitative changes in the status of genetic diversity in locally and regionally adapted crop genetic resources.
Genetic erosion, or the loss of biodiversity, is often presented as an ecological problem, but the underlying fundamental causes are socio-economic and political.
The lack of economic incentives to conserve diversity within agriculture and nature is a key cause of continuing degradation.
It is a vital challenge for our societies to reflect properly the precious value of natures diversity in the world economy, in all market exchange rules and regulations.
In both developed and developing countries, economic and social measures should encourage farmers who continue to grow local varieties and produce diversity-rich crops, on genes from which the development of new high-yielding crop varieties throughout the world depends.
The Central Asia Countries represent one of the most important regions of our planet for temperate fruit genetic resources, as centres of origin of many species.
To ensure the maintenance of these resources, it is necessary to protect the vital genetic diversity of the important crops, promote and strengthen the conservation of locally adapted varieties and genetic resources at the farm and local community level, and ecosystems where the ancestral are living.
Such conservation would complement, but not be an alternative to, national and regional gene banks.
Locally conserved varieties are more vulnerable to disaster than nationally or regionally held genetic resources.
Thus it is also necessary to develop early warning systems to monitor qualitative and quantitative changes in the status of genetic diversity in locally and regionally adapted crop genetic resources.
Genetic erosion, or the loss of biodiversity, is often presented as an ecological problem, but the underlying fundamental causes are socio-economic and political.
The lack of economic incentives to conserve diversity within agriculture and nature is a key cause of continuing degradation.
It is a vital challenge for our societies to reflect properly the precious value of natures diversity in the world economy, in all market exchange rules and regulations.
In both developed and developing countries, economic and social measures should encourage farmers who continue to grow local varieties and produce diversity-rich crops, on genes from which the development of new high-yielding crop varieties throughout the world depends.
Authors
G.A. Finetto
Keywords
germplasm, biodiversity, genetic erosion, gene banks, network
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