Germplasm conservation

1. Sept 2012
Germplasm Conservation
™™ At the ICRISAT genebank, to
maximize longevity, quality pre-
dried seeds are packed in moisture-
proof containers and stored under
controlled environment.
™™ The genebank storage chambers
are constructed on a modular basis
with prefabricated panels and mobile
shelving.
Facilities for germplasm
conservation
Short-term store
™™Maintained at 18-20ºC temperature
and 30-40% relative humidity (RH),
used for temporary holding of seeds.
Medium-term store
™™ Maintained as active collection at
4ºC temperature and 30% relative
humidity (RH).
™™ Seed viability can be maintained
above 85% for 15-20 years.
Long-term store
™™ Maintained as base collection at
-20ºC temperature.
™™ Seed viability can be maintained
above 85% for 50 years or more.
Holding
genetic
resources
at ICRISAT
in trust with
FAO.
Medium-term store.
Long-term store. Seed samples arranged in the drying room.
Seed drying room
™™ Maintained at 15ºC temperature
and 15% relative humidity (RH) for
drying seeds
™™ Seeds are dried to 8-9%
moisture content for medium-
term conservation and to 4-7%
moisture content for long-term
conservation.
Testing the
viability of stored
germplasm.
Seed biology
laboratory
™™ Seed laboratory is
used for conducting
germination and
seed health tests.
™™ Seed health testing
is essential to
improve storage
longevity of conserved
accessions.
Glasshouse
Field genebank
™™ Non-seed/less seed producing wild
species of sorghum and pearl millet
are maintained as live plants in the
field genebank.
Non-seed/less-seed producing pearl millet
wild species maintained in field genebank.
Safety of conserved
germplasm
™™Genebank is designed to withstand
natural disasters and is equipped
with all safety and security
measures.
™™Part of the chickpea germplasm
is safely duplicated at ICARDA,
Aleppo, Syria.
™™Working collections and mini core
collections of pearl millet, groundnut
and small millets are also conserved
at ICRISAT regional genebank,
Niamey, Niger.
™™ICRISAT planned safety duplication
of its five mandate crops and six
small millets germplasm at the
Svalbard Global Seed Vault (SGSV),
Norway. Over 86,000 accessions
have already been conserved.
Vacuum sealing of seeds for long-term
conservation and safety duplication.
Genebank modules.
Processing seed for long-term
conservation and safety backup
at Svalbard Global Seed Vault.
Wild relatives of non-seed producing groundnut
maintained as live plants in a glasshouse.
Boxes containing seed for shipment to
Svalbard Global Seed Vault, Norway.
External view of Svalbard Global Seed Vault,
Norway.
Field
™™ Sufficient precision field space
is available for regeneration,
characterization and evaluation of
germplasm accessions.
Introduction