ISHS Acta Horticulturae 760: XXVII International Horticultural Congress - IHC2006: II International Symposium on Plant Genetic Resources of Horticultural Crops
A GLOBAL CONSERVATION STRATEGY FOR STRAWBERRIES |
| Author: | K.E. Hummer |
| Keywords: | Fragaria L., genetic resources, germplasm, strawberry, preservation |
| Abstract:
The strawberry, Fragaria L., a horticultural crop of global economic significance, is listed in the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Annex 1. In 2005, about 3.6 million MT of strawberries were produced in 75 countries. Fragaria, which includes about 26 species, has centers of diversity located in Eurasia and North and South America. The primary cultivated gene pool is octoploid. Landraces have been lost though human encroachment, natural disasters, and displacement by commercial cultivars. Geneticists have bred new strawberry cultivars for more than 300 years but the primary cultivated gene pool is restricted. A global conservation strategy is in preparation to reduce the erosion of diversity in wild genetic resources and to protect the availability and accessibility of the wild and cultivated gene pools. An international team of strawberry genebank managers, geneticists and researchers is defining protocols to specify protocols for sustainable and secure conservation of strawberries in perpetuity. A survey of ex situ collections of strawberry was performed to identify the present status of genebank activities. Technical guidelines for the safe movement of Fragaria germplasm were reviewed and updated. Eligibility criteria for genebanks to be recognized as part of the global conservation system will be established. A unified approach for the global conservation of Fragaria will be suggested. | |
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