ISHS Acta Horticulturae 523: XXV International Horticultural Congress, Part 13: New and Specialized Crops and Products, Botanic Gardens and Human-Horticulture Relationship
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND CONSERVATION OF TROPICAL FRUIT SPECIES |
| Author: | R.A. Drew |
| Keywords: | anther culture, embryogenesis, gene transfer, micropropagation, Molecular Markers, plant genetic resources |
| Abstract:
Plant biotechnology encompasses all aspects of cell and tissue culture, as well as the more recent techniques of molecular biology. Biotechnology has been responsible for many, and in some cases spectacular, advances in plant improvement. However, it also has an important role to play in the conservation of plant genetic resources. Tropical fruit species have been relatively neglected in terms of both conservation and biotechnology. In vitro collecting and storage would facilitate conservation of many tropical fruit species that have recalcitrant seeds or are vulnerable in field collections. There have been few applications of in vitro slow growth systems and cryopreservation for medium and long-term storage of tropical fruit species, although with refinement, these techniques hold much potential. Until then, micropropagation protocols that have been shown to be genetically stable would be useful for medium term storage. Regeneration via embryogenesis has been achieved from juvenile tissue of some tropical fruit species. Embryogenesis underpins some storage systems based on artificial seed technology and cryopreservation, however genetic stability of resultant plants is unknown in most cases. Anther culture following pollen storage has potential for conservation, however there are few applications at this stage. Molecular marker technology represents an unprecedented opportunity to study biodiversity in the wild, under cultivation and in collections. This will facilitate characterisation and collection of useful material and prevent needless duplication between countries. Although there are limited applications of gene transfer to tropical fruit species, this technology has important consequences for conservation as it provides novel methods to access and use genes from plants and other organisms. | |
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