Country Status Reports on Underutilized Crops by Keng-Chang Chuang, Taiwan - Regional Expert Consultation on Underutilized Crops for Food and Nutritional Security in Asia and the Pacific November 13-15, 2017, Bangkok

1. Current Status of Plant GeneticCurrent Status of Plant Genetic
Resources Conservation andResources Conservation and
Utilization in TaiwanUtilization in Taiwan
Ien-Chie Wen
Senior Horticulturist and Director,
Division of Plant Germplasm,
Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute
Keng-Chang Chuang
Senior Horticulturist and Heads of
Department of Breeding ,
Floriculture Research Center,
Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute

2. The organization of plant genetic resourceThe organization of plant genetic resource
conservation system in Taiwanconservation system in Taiwan
 The National Plant Genetic Resources
Center (NPGRC) was established in 1993.
 The NPGRC for short is Plant Genebank
included in the family of Taiwan Agricultural
Research Institute(TARI), Council of
Agriculture(COA).
 To ensure germplasm excellence of
collections, conservation, and utilization in
research activities.

3. Germplasm preservationGermplasm preservation
Storage of Orthodox type seeds:
These seeds include small-seeded grain crops and
vegetables. They can be stored for a long time
under low-temperature and low-humidity
environment and are separately stored in long,
medium, and short-term storage rooms in
accordance to the purpose of storage.

4. Germplasm preservationGermplasm preservation ((Orthodox seedsOrthodox seeds ））
 Long-term storage: with storage conditions of - 18± 2℃
and below 30 ± 3% RH, provided mainly for the
comprehensive base collection.
 Medium-term storage: with storage conditions of 1±
2 and below 40 ± 3% RH, provided for the seeds of℃
actively used materials,can be used for distribution,
exchange, multiplication, and evaluation purposes.
 Short-term storage: with storage conditions of 10±
2 and below 40 ± 3% RH,℃ working materials
frequently requested or used.

6. Summary of the crop germplasm moreSummary of the crop germplasm more
than 500 accessions in NPGRCthan 500 accessions in NPGRC
 Soybean 21,698
 Rice 14,054
 Mungbean 7,849
 Tomato 7,181
 Pepper 5,391
 Eggplant 3,648
 Corn 2,989
 Peanut 2,199
 Watermelon 1,960
 Common Flax 1,819
 Asparagus bean 1,931
 Sorghum 989
 Amaranth 872
 Snap bean 712
 Lettuce 981
 Cucumber 813
 Chinese cabbage 731
 Black gram 584
……….91782 accessions

7. Germplasm PreservationGermplasm Preservation
（（ Vegetative Propagation CropsVegetative Propagation Crops ））
 Field preservation: NPGRC has operated seven
repositories at different elevations and latitude such
as Wanhsiang high elevation repository, Rona middle
elevation repository, Chiayi subtropical repository,
Fengshan tropical repository, Kuken repository,
Kuanhsi citrus and medical repository.Appropriate
preservation 1552 accessions of vegetative
propagation crops.
Field preservation
In Vitro preservation

8. Name of repository Crops of preservation
high elevation repository plum 、 peach 、 apple 、 cherry
middle elevation repository peach 、 plum 、 Chinese
apricot 、 persimmon 、 pearlow elevation repository peach 、 pear 、 grape 、 plum
、 loquat 、 persimmon 、
Chinese apricotChiayi subtropical repository pineapple 、 longan 、 litchi 、 citrus
、 avocado 、 passion fruit 、 sweet
potatoFengshan tropical repository mango 、 jujube 、 carambola 、
guava 、 papaya 、 Annonas 、 R
Kuken repository
Repositories for clonal germplasmRepositories for clonal germplasm
preservationpreservation

9. Middle Elevation RepositoryMiddle Elevation Repository
 pest, disease and weed
control
 fertilization
 characterization
 pruning
 propagation
 Keep tree grow
healthy

10. Characteristics of Apple GermplasmCharacteristics of Apple Germplasm
Variety Flowering
date
Maturity
date
Fruit
weight(g)
Skin
colore
Soluble solid
Content
(Brix)
Titrating
acid(%)
Delicious 4/8 10/25 219.0±20.6 red 10.8 0.15
Fuji 4/10 11/15 204.6±15.6 red 17.8 0.12
Indo 4/5 8/20 257.4±24.4 yellow 18.4 0.10
Kinsei 4/10 8/15 127.6±10.9 yellow 11.9 0.20
Mutsu 4/15 10/10 417.9±28.9 pink 14.0 0.47
Orin 4/8 10/30 221.5±20.9 yellow 18.2 0.20
Ralls
Janet
4/10 11/25 156.1±10.3 red 12.5 0.33
Stark
Jambo
4/8 10/15 523.0±86.8 red 11.9 0.80
Tropicsweet 1/25 5/25 119.5 ±9.6 red 13.7 0.24

11. Germplasm PreservationGermplasm Preservation
（（ Vegetative Propagation CropsVegetative Propagation Crops ））
 In Vitro preservation ： The advantages of in vitro
preservation for clonal germplasm resources
maintenance include less space for storage, possibility
of pathogen-free from plants diseases, and convenience
to international exchange of germplasm resources. 1734
accessions of sweet potato and potato are preserved in
test tube.


12. Germplasm IdentificationGermplasm Identification
 Germplasm preservation can not help but homonym or
synonym same thing happens, the previous judge as to
the form of the appearance of the morphology
susceptible to environmental factors, while now
molecular level of RFLP, RAPD, AFLP and SSR
technology are used for accurate identification.
 Established transgenic papaya and rice identification
techniques, and genetic relationship study of chilli,
azaleas, mungbean, anthurium, peanut, peach, plum,
Chinese apricot, persimmon, flowering cherry, longan,
mango, litchi, cassava germplasm

13. National Plant Genetic ResourcesNational Plant Genetic Resources
Information SystemInformation System
 In order to enhance the communication efficiency of
germplasm information, an easy-to-query database
and information network were developed. More than
70 thousand accessions of germplasm related data
including passport, characterization, and image data
were stored in this database system. This database
open to researchers and breeders who are interested
in genetic resources information and can search on
the web site- http://www.npgrc.tari.gov.tw.

15. http://Digifruit.tari.gov.tw

16. STRATEGIES FOR COLLECTING AND
UTILIZING PLANT GERMPLASM IN TAIWAN
existing species of the domestic research
institutes,
new varieties bred by the breeding
programs
local varieties (Field collection)
international exchange materials
in response to the need of breeding
program, collected by the germplasm
collection team from foreign countries.

17. Germplasm materials stored and maintained
at NPGRC are not only for conservation
purposes but also to support research and
utilization. These genetic materials are
available to all persons with academic
purpose and can be applied via internet or
intranet. The supply of plant materials are
free of charge as well as including relative
information for referring.
STRATEGIES FOR COLLECTING AND
UTILIZING PLANT GERMPLASM IN TAIWAN

18. Utilization-Crop variety breeding directionUtilization-Crop variety breeding direction
in Taiwanin Taiwan
 Improving crop yield, quality, pest and disease
resistance. In response to globe climate
change, crop resistance to stress are included.
 Global warming will be a major problem in rice
cultivation, due to rice grain fertility becoming
lower and rice appearance quality deteriorates.
 Rice breeder had screened 30 rice cultivars for
heat tolerance.- TC65 and koshiibuki

19. Rice germplasm and utilizationRice germplasm and utilization
 Taiwan rice semi-dwarf gene ("Taichung
No.1 and "low foot black tip" varieties),
become the main basis for green revolution
so that the significant increase in rice
production in Asia 40 years ago.
 NPGRC preserve approximately 130,000
accessions of rice T-DNA mutagenesis
materials and another 3000 accessions are
responding by using sodium azide
mutagenesis.

22. The methods of promoting newThe methods of promoting new
varietiesvarieties
 Free license, exclusive license and non-
exclusive license.
 Growers get authorization to propagate
seeds or seedlings to grow or sell to
farmers.
 Sometimes new variety especially in rice
variety is released for free.

23. The results of germplasm utilization
 TARI is committed to breeding new varieties of
cereals, fruits, vegetables and flowers which
with the characteristics can meet the consumer
needs.
 Such as high yield, appropriate sugar and acid
ratio, good color / pattern / aroma, fruit
improvement, to extend the storage and
transportation period, to enhance the taste or
nutrition of food, etc.

24. Germplasm Utilization in TaiwanGermplasm Utilization in Taiwan
The summary of plant germplasm utilization in last 5
years.
Crop
No. of new
varieties
Crop
No. of new
varieties
Rice 6 Bitter gourd 1
Maize 2 Onocidium 2
Pineapple 2 Doritaenopsis 1
Indian Jujube 2 Amaryllis 2
Papaya 2 Phaelaenopsis 1
Peach 2
Flowering
cherry
1
Wax Apple 2 India date 1
Pitaya 1

25. Tainung No.77 Tainung No.79
High yield potential, excellent performance
and aroma flavor.
High quality
blast resistance and low sprouting
genes

26. Tainung No.3- Sugar Barbie
Non-Exclusive License
Planting area about 33 hectares.

27. CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION
 Advisory committee of plant germplasm and
biodiversity has been organized to evaluate
academic research proposals and the other
issues pertaining plant genetic resources for
supporting research and utilization in
NPGRC.
 TARI coordinates and collaborates with all
research institutions and university on field
collection conservation, documentation and
international cooperation.

28.  With the rapid loss of germplasm materials
nowadays, the gathering and preservation of
germplasm take on new urgency.
CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

29. Thank you for your attention