Results of projects on collecting, mapping, monitoring, and conserving of plant genetic resources 1990-2008

Abstract

Old landraces and obsolete cultivars represent a national heritage that must be conserved for future generations. Similarly, crop wild relatives (CWR) are a valuable gene pool for plant breeding or for direct introduction as a new crop. These materials have been mapped, collected, evaluated, regenerated, and conserved in the Gene Bank. In total, 3726 seed and vegetative samples have been collected in the Czech Republic, as well as 1582 abroad (in Slovakia, Poland and Austria) during cross-border cooperation projects. All collecting sites (over 1000) were located by GPS and plotted using the Geobáze Professional 2.8 mapping software. Altogether, 688 samples were declared as a national collection, and 627 seed accessions were conserved in the Gene Bank. In addition, 842 accessions of fruits were recommended for in situ conservation. Selected species of the families Poaceae, Fabaceae, and Alliaceae, which are rare or threatened in the Czech Republic, have been monitored in situ for 3-5 years. Two sites were suggested for protection as new protected areas.