The document provides an overview of plant genetic resources in Egypt. It discusses the location and challenges facing Egyptian agriculture. It describes Egypt's efforts to manage plant genetic resources through both in-situ and ex-situ conservation. For ex-situ conservation, it focuses on Egypt's National Genebank, outlining its objectives, departments, facilities, collections, projects, and role in academic research. It also mentions the involvement of other organizations and botanical gardens in conserving plant genetic resources ex-situ in Egypt.

1. The current status of Plant GeneticThe current status of Plant Genetic
Resources in Egypt
Dr. Abeer Elhalwagi
National Genebank and Genetic
Resources (NGB), Egypt
Email: abeerelhalwagi@gmail.com

2. IntroductionIntroduction
•• Location of EgyptLocation of EgyptLocation of EgyptLocation of Egypt
 Northeastern Corner of AfricaNortheastern Corner of Africa
 Western Extension of Asia (The Sinai Peninsula)Western Extension of Asia (The Sinai Peninsula)
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( )( )
 Borders Libya to the WestBorders Libya to the West , Sudan to the , Sudan to the South South

3. Introduction
1. Egypt’s total area is about 1,002,000 sq. km., of which, only 4 %
of the total area is populated;
2. Many regions are rich in wild plants and landraces, where 2094
plant species are identified of which 61 are endemic and 4 are
endangered;g ;
3. Currently, the Egyptian agriculture is facing many challenges:
 Limited cultivated area and water supply;
 Desertification deforestation erosion climate changes and overuse of Desertification, deforestation, erosion, climate changes and overuse of
pesticides and other agrochemicals;
 New uniform crop varieties have replaced many of local varieties and
landraces leading to great losses of useful genes resistant to many biotic
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g g g y
and abiotic stresses.

4. Management of PGR in Egypt
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5. I Sit C ti f PGRIn‐Situ Conservation of PGR
1. Conservation in natural protectorates managed by the
Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs accordingMinistry of State for Environmental Affairs according
to the law No. 102 of 1983;
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6. 2 In 2012 the number of2. In 2012, the number of
natural protectorates
reached 30, of which 14
protectorates includeprotectorates include
PGR.
3 Th t t l f ll3. The total area of all
natural protectorates
represent about 15% of
’ lEgypt’s total area.
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7. Ex‐Situ Conservation of PGR
1. National Gene Bank (NGB).
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8. NGB Objectives
 Plan and conduct exploration missions to survey the genetic resources in
their native habitat;
 Collection, Conservation, Identification, Characterization and Evaluation of Collection, Conservation, Identification, Characterization and Evaluation of
National Collections of Plant, Animal and Agricultural Microorganism
Genetic Resources;
 Strengthen the international cooperation in the field of GR;
 Facilitate the exchange of GR and related information under a Material
Transfer Agreement in compliance with the IT‐PGRFA;g p ;
 Document all the information generated for each accession on the NGBGR
database;
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 Enhance public awareness on the importance of maintaining genetic
resources and promoting in situ and on‐farm conservation.

9. NGB Departmentsp
• Field Crops;
• Horticultural Crops;
• Animal Genetic Resources;
• Agricultural‐related micro‐organisms.
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10. NGB sections
• Genetic resources conservation section;
• Seed viability testing and regeneration section;y g g ;
• Genetic resources evaluation section;
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11. Genebank Data information System in EgyptGenebank Data information System in Egypt
• Documentation and information section;
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12. NGB labs
WheatWheat
A7A3A2 A6A4 A5A1
Cytogenetics lab
B3 B6B2 B5B4 B7B1
sat sat 2
Cytogenetics lab
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A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 A6 A7 B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7

13. ChemicalChemical
Analysis Lab
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14. Tissue culture lab
Isolation of the shoot
meristemmeristem
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Different encapsulated meristems

15. Cryopreservation device
Cryovial
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Liquid nitrogen tank

16. Molecular genetics lab
ISSR SSR AFLP
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17. Microbiology Lab

18. NGB f ilitiNGB facilities
FarmFarm
Green Houses
18Botanical Garden

19. 19

20. pomegranate local variety frompomegranate local variety from
South Sinai
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Collection Missions

21. Current Projects
Project Title Source of Fund DurationProject Title Source of Fund Duration
On‐farm conservation and in vitro preservation of
Citrus local varieties and sustainable utilization in
Egypt.
International Treaty for Plant
Genetic Resources for Food
and Agriculture (IT‐PGRFA)
2009 ‐ 2011
National faba bean Rhizobium Germplasm collection,
genotyping and its potential use as inoculants.
Science and Technology
Development fund (STDF)
2010 – 2012
Characterization, preservation and studying the
phytochemistry and antibacterial activity of
pomegranate germplasm.
Science and Technology
Development fund (STDF)
2010 – 2012
Sustainable utilization of agriculture biodiversity to
develop the local communities in the western desert.
Agricultural Research and
Development Fund (ARDF)
2010 – 2013
Conservation and Utilization of Egyptian Wild Flora to
li i l
Science and Technology
l f d ( )
2012 ‐ 2015
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Improve Salinity Tolerance
in Cereals
Development fund (STDF)

22. Sustainable utilization of Agriculture biodiversity to develop the local
communities in the western desert

23. Native animal
genetic resources
MaterialsMaterials
Alfalfa
(Medicago sativa)byproducts
(date palm, olive and others)

24. Area: 43.6% of Egypt
64% of western desert
Sand dunes: 20‐100m/yearSand dunes: 20‐100m/year
Rainfall: 0%
Water: 1265 million m2/ year
Population: 180,000
Siwa
El Farafra
El Dakhla
El Kharga
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25. Academic Research
Title Researcher Degree g
Improvement of Some Traits of Rhizobia Specific to Peanut
(Arachis hypogaea).
Fayrouz Hassan Abd El‐
Mageed
M.Sc.
2011
O id ti li di i ti f th l t M h d S M M SOxidative coupling dimerization of methyl p‐coumarate,
methyl caffeate and methyl ferulate by using crude peroxidase
from onion solid waste as a tool for organic synthesis.
Mohamed Samy Mansour M.Sc.
2012
Determining Some Genetic Loci of Productive Traits in Some Mohammed Ahmed El‐ Ph.D.
Indigenous Chicken Breeds Using Microsatellite Markers. Sayed 2012
Genotyping characterization of Rhizobia that nodulate
soybean in Egypt.
Sameh Heikal Mohamed Ph.D.
2012
Characterization and evaluation of some wheat genotypes
under different environmental conditions.
Soliman Abd El‐Maaboud Ph.D.
2012
Characterization and evaluation of some wheat genotypes
under drought stress
Mohamed Helmy El‐ Shal Ph.D.
2012
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under drought stress. 2012

26. Other Organizations involved directly in plant genetic
i i i i iresources ex‐situ conservation activities:
• Agriculture Research Center Research Institutions;
• Desert Research Center (DRC);
• National Research Center (NRC);
• Faculties of agriculture (17) and science (15) of
different Egyptian universities.
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27. 2. Botanical Gardens
No.
Name of
Botanical Garden
Present
Area
Date
of Establishment
No. of
SpeciesBotanical Garden
(Feddan)*
of Establishment Species
1 Alex. Univ. Fac. of Sci. 2 1942 500
2 Aswan Garden 17 1928 3712 Aswan Garden 17 1928 371
3 El Saff Botanic Garden 17 1893 ‐
4 Orman Botanic Garden, Giza 28 1873 114
5 Q bb P l C i5 Qubba Palace, Cairo 124 1960 350
6 Sabahia Horticultural Research Station
‐ 1958 ‐
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* Feddan = 4200 m2

28. Legislative Frame Work: LawsLegislative Frame Work: Laws
 Law No. 53 of 1966;
 Law No. 102 of 1983;
 Law No. 82 of 2002;
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29. Legislative Frame Work (Ministerial Decrees)Legislative Frame Work (Ministerial Decrees)
 Ministerial Decree No. 1920 of 2003;
 Ministerial Decree No. 335 of 2005;
 Ministerial Decree No. 862 of 2005;
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