Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Genebanks worldwide play a crucial role in the long-term conservation and accessibility of wide diversity of plant genetic resources (PGR). These resources are essential for addressing current and future challenges related to climate change and biodiversity loss, thereby contributing to agricultural production and sustainability. Enhancing the efficiency of genebanks requires implementing a quality management system that ensures data transparency, as well as the documentation and standardization of processes. This study proposes a set of 10 mandatory and 38 optional genebank metrics specifically designed for collections of orthodox seeds. These metrics define a set of basic parameters that are easy to calculate and collectively serve as a valuable tool for improving genebank management, enhancing performance, fostering transparency and promoting collaborations among institutions. Fourteen institutions engaged in the long-term conservation of PGR were consulted in the development of the proposed metrics. This work lays the foundation for the establishment of a widely accepted set of genebank metrics within the global genebank community. Further research and iterative development are necessary to formulate comprehensive metrics applicable to other ex situ conservation methods (such as cryopreservation, in vitro and field conservation) as well as in situ conservation strategies (including genetic reserves and on-farm conservation).
Source: Plant Genetic Resources
Authors: Theo van Hintum, Bela Bartha, Claudio Niggli, Alvina Avagyan, Sylvia Vogl, Lisa Achathaler, Vojtech Holubec, Ludmilla Papouskova, Francesco Ferrari, Graziano Rossi, Attila Simon, Lajos Horvath, Renata Kowalik, Maja Boczkowka, Stephan Weise, Markus Oppermann, Maarten van Zonneveld, Matija Obreza, Erik Wijnker, Noam Chayut, Fadia Chairi, Johan Axelsson, Lise Lykke Steffensen, Filippo Guzzon
Institutions: Wageningen University & Research, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Czech Agrifood Research Center, University of Pavia, National Centre for Biodiversity and Gene Conservation, Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute - National Research Institute, Leibniz-Institut für Pflanzengenetik und Kulturpflanzenforschung (IPK), World Vegetable Center, Global Crop Diversity Trust, John Innes Centre, Walloon Agricultural Research Centre, NordGen, Alliance Bioversity International - CIAT, Bioversity International, International Center for Tropical Agriculture
Language: English
Subfield: Agronomy and Crop Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,550
OpenAlex ID: W4413804150