Tropical and subtropical root and tuber crops

Abstract

The chapter provides a comprehensive treatment of the genetic resources conservation status of the major root and tuber crops in the world. The germplasm collections in both the CGIAR centers and national programs were identified. The quality of the collections in terms of genetic diversity, maintenance, safe movement and characterization were presented when data is available. The conservation strategies and methods used were described and this includes field, in vitro, cryo and seed banking. The complementary role of in situ conservation to the long-term ex situ conservation was illustrated in native potato in the Peruvian Andes as a dynamic conservation strategy. The experience in the application of ISO 17025 standard at the International Potato Center in relation to germplasm distribution and disease indexing was discussed. The agronomic traits identified by crop experts for germplasm evaluation were collated and this represents the challenges that the genebanks have to undertake in the coming years. Root and tuber crops have proven themselves in history to be important survival crops, in recent years also provided local food security and affected by international commodity prices fluctuation. The future promises of these groups of crops were contemplated in relation to climate change and increasing productivity with less and less arable land - the 'chuno' factor and the 'poultry farm' potato concept.