Germplasm, conservation and its potential role in crop improvement (Published)
Genetic resources supply the basic mechanics that allow plants to convert soil, water, and sunlight into something useful for human consumption. One of the most sustainable approaches for conserving precious genetic resources in the long run is to use plant genetic resources in crop development, followed by adoption, cultivation, and consumption or marketing of improved cultivars by farmers. This review’s goal is to describe the challenges surrounding the use of genetic resources in crop development. Crop genetic resources are the foundation of agricultural output, and their conservation and application have yielded major economic benefits. However, because crop genetic resources are essentially public assets, private incentives for conservation of genetic resources may fall short of meeting public goals. To effectively harness the existing resources in further valuable ways, a significantly greater characterization and knowledge of genetic diversity and its distribution is required. It’s critical to plan collecting excursions and conservation operations efficiently. The value of diversity lies in its application. The most basic method of conservation is to combine multiple ex situ and in situ conservation strategies in a complimentary manner. Biotechnology provides us with a new set of tools for studying genetic resources, as well as conservation measures. The utilization of distantly related trait carriers as donors for the desired traits has become more possible thanks to gene technology. Given the restricted national plant breeding capacity, international germplasm exchanges will continue to be vital in influencing new climatic and climate conditions.
Keywords: Conservation, Genetic diversity, crop improvement, germplasm