Role of plant genetic resources in encountering climate change challenge

Abstract

The world is encountering a global threat: Climate change. It is estimated that the average air temperature will raise 3.7-7.8 °C by 2100. The possible impacts will vary, however, agriculture will be adversely affected marked with yield loss of staple crops such as rice and maize and altered post-harvest quality of horticulture products. On the other hand, the world Food and Agriculture Organization (UN-FAO) has set a target 'zero hunger' by 2030', despite the five big challenges ahead: I) protracted conflict, ii) growing inequality, iii) rapid urbanization, iv) economic challenges, v) drought and natural disasters. The existing plant genetic resources, particularly the wild, neglected, and underutilized species has a great role and bears big potential to be exploited and targetted to achieve food and nutrition security, esp. in the densely populated regions with malnutrition problem e.g. in Asia and sub-Saharan regions. However, a key to future and sustainable crop production lies in the collection of crop and their wild relatives stored in ex-situ, or in-situ. This paper aims to explain the importance of plant genetic resources as well as the potential of some underutilized crops closely attributed with drought resistence, such as sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench), amaranth (Amaranthus sp.). These crops bear potential to support national food security program.