Plant Genetic Resources

Plant genetic resources form the biological foundation of horticulture. They include cultivated varieties, breeding lines, landraces, crop wild relatives, and underutilized species. Together they represent the vast genetic diversity available for current and future use. This Working Group is dedicated to promoting the conservation, characterization, sustainable utilization, and equitable sharing of these invaluable resources, recognizing their essential role in global food security, plant breeding, human wellbeing, environmental resilience, and cultural heritage.

The unprecedented loss of genetic diversity observed over the last decades has created new urgency for global action. Modern agriculture increasingly relies on a narrowing genetic base, while natural ecosystems face fragmentation, climate change, and land-use pressure. The Working Group therefore supports both in situ and ex situ strategies, ranging from gene banks and living collections to on-farm conservation and protection of wild populations. Emphasis is placed on documenting traditional knowledge, supporting local custodians of diversity, and ensuring that conserved materials remain accessible for research, breeding, and education.

Members of the Working Group Plant Genetic Resources are engaged in activities such as germplasm exploration, collection, documentation, molecular and phenotypic characterization, pre-breeding, and long-term conservation. The Working Group also fosters discussion on legal, ethical, and policy frameworks related to the access and fair use of plant genetic resources, including International Treaty commitments and benefit-sharing mechanisms.

The scope of the Working Group covers all horticultural species: fruits, vegetables, ornamentals, medicinal and aromatic plants, and minor or neglected crops with emerging potential. By encouraging interdisciplinary approaches, the Working Group helps bridge conservation biology, horticultural science, biotechnology, plant breeding, and socio-economic perspectives.

To promote scientific exchange, the Working Group organizes international symposia and contributes to joint initiatives within ISHS. These activities generate collaborative research opportunities and result in publications in Acta Horticulturae. The Working Group also encourages participation from young scientists and professionals, supporting the development of the next generation of experts in plant genetic resources.

In an era of climate uncertainty, demographic change, and technological innovation, maintaining and understanding plant genetic diversity is more important than ever. The Working Group Plant Genetic Resources provides a platform for researchers, practitioners, and institutions worldwide to collaborate in safeguarding this diversity for sustainable horticulture and for the benefit of present and future generations.