The document summarizes ex-situ gene bank management in Egypt. It describes the location and challenges facing Egyptian agriculture, including limited land, water issues, and loss of local varieties. It then outlines Egypt's approach to conserving plant genetic resources, including through the National Gene Bank (NGB). The NGB conducts collection missions and maintains departments and facilities for conserving crops ex-situ, including field crop, horticultural, and microbial collections. It summarizes the NGB's objectives, departments, laboratories, facilities, projects, and achievements over 10 years in conserving thousands of accessions and conducting research. Other organizations involved in ex-situ conservation in Egypt are also mentioned.

1. Ex-situ Gene Bank Management
in Egypt
Dr. Abeer Elhalwagi
Senior Researcher, National Genebank and
Genetic Resources (NGB), Egypt
Utilization of Molecular Markers for PGRFA
Characterization and Pre-Breeding for Climate Changes Aug. 31st- Sept. 4th, 2014

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

3. Introduction
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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;
3. Currently, the Egyptian agriculture is facing many challenges:
 Limited cultivated area and water supply;
 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
and abiotic stresses.

4. Management of PGR in Egypt
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5. In-Situ Conservation of PGR
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1. Conservation in natural protectorates managed by the
Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs according
to the law No. 102 of 1983;

6. 2. In 2012, the number of
natural protectorates
reached 30, of which 14
protectorates include
PGR.
3. The total area of all
natural protectorates
represent about 15% of
Egypt’s total area.
6

7. Ex-Situ Conservation of PGR
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1. National Gene Bank (NGB).

8. NGB Objectives
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 Plan and conduct exploration missions to survey the genetic resources in
their native habitat;
 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;
 Document all the information generated for each accession on the NGBGR
database;
 Enhance public awareness on the importance of maintaining genetic
resources and promoting in situ and on-farm conservation.

9. NGB Departments
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• Field Crops;
• Horticultural Crops;
• Animal Genetic Resources;
• Agricultural-related micro-organisms.

10. NGB sections
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• Genetic resources conservation section;
• Seed viability testing and regeneration section;
• Genetic resources evaluation section;

11. NGB labs
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Cytogenetics lab
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A1
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A2
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A3
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A4
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A5
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A6
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A7
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B1
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B2
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B3
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B4
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B5
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B6
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B7
A7
B3
A3
B6
A2
B2
A6
B5
A4 A5
B4 B7B1
sat sat 2
A1
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A1
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A2
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A3
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A4
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A5
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A6
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A7
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B1
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B2
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B3
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B4
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B5
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B6
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B7
Wheat

12. 12
Chemical Analysis Lab

13. 13
Tissue culture lab
Isolation of the shoot
meristem
Different encapsulated meristems

14. 14
Cryovial
Liquid nitrogen tank
Cryopreservation device

15. 15
Molecular genetics lab
ISSR SSR AFLP

16. Microbiology Lab

17. NGB facilities
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Farm
Green Houses
Botanical Garden

18. 18

19. 19
pomegranate local variety from
South Sinai
Collection Missions

20. Genebank Data information System in Egypt
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• Documentation and information section;

21. Projects
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Project 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 Improve
Salinity Tolerance
in Cereals
Science and Technology
Development fund (STDF)
2012 – 2015
Optimizing the Use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and
Agriculture for Adaptation to Climate Change (TCP/SNO/3401)
Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO)
1/2/2013 –
31/1/2015
Sustainable use of landraces and genetic resources to improve
wheat tolerance to heat stress for food security
International Treaty for Plant
Genetic Resources for Food and
Agriculture (IT-PGRFA)
1/3/2014 –
1/3/2016

22. 22
Achievements of NGB During the last 10 years
• Field Crops Department
The total number of collecting accessions until now is 4211
accession
1- Vegetable and wild crops
Crop Number Propagation Characterization Evaluation
Okra 147 147 40 40
Watermelon 10 10
Pea 48
Onion 124
Eggplant 17
Spinach 36
Lettuce 42 42
Khela 265
Castor 34 34
Cabbage 10
Beans 79

23. 23
Achievements of NGB During the last 10 years
• Field Crops Department
2- Field crops
Crop Number Propagation Characterization Evaluation
Barley 178 178 178
Rice 39 34 34 20
Wheat 468 468 468 108
Bean – Local var. 128 128 128
Alfalfa 120 88 88 88
Trefoil 44
Millet 45
Peanut 7
Sesame 60 60 60
Maize 169
Lupine 102 102 102 38

24. 24
Achievements of NGB During the last 10 years
• Horticultural Crops Department
1- Micro-propagation medium and long term conservation
Crop Variety Crop Variety
Grape Balady – Romy Red-
Matrouh black- Siwei red-
Siwei white- Al ghribi
Fig White fig- Black fig- Soltani
fig
Guava Balady Citrus Sour lime- Eureke Lemon –
Balady lime- Rough Lemon-
Troyer citrange
Pomegranate Hamed – Sweet – Sour-
Manfalouty- Wardy-
Hejazy- Assiuty
Apple Balady
Ornamentals Clastimo Vegetables Sweet potato- Strawberry

25. 25
Achievements of NGB During the last 10 years
• Horticultural Crops Department
2- Medium and long term conservation
Medium term conservation
Grape Romy Red- Bez El-Anza-
Matrouh black-
Fig White fig- Black fig- Soltani
fig
Apple Balady Citrus Sweet lime- Sour lime-
Eureke Lemon – Balady
mandarin
Banana Gerandnan
Long term conservation : Grape

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Achievements of NGB During the last 10 years
• Molecular Genetic Lab.
Plant No. of Samples Molecular Marker
Alfalfa -Kharga 250 ISSR (5)
SSR (5)
Alfalfa-Dakhla 160 ISSR (5)
Alfalfa-Farafra 100 ISSR (5)
Alfalfa-Siwa 110 ISSR (5)
Wild flora
(salinity tolerant)
84 ISSR (20)
Wheat 44 SSR (10)
Lepinus 20 ISSR (17)
Okra 29 AFLP (5)
ISSR (42)
Castor 8 ISSR (20)
Tomato 10 ISSR (10)
RAPD (10)
Grape 3 ISSR (10)
Pomegranate 29 AFLP (2)
Sheep 10 SSR (10)
Goat 9 SSR (10)
Citrus groups 183 ISSR (10)
Corchorus 8 ISSR (17)

27. 27
Achievements of NGB During the last 10 years
• Cytogenetics Lab.

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Achievements of NGB During the last 10 years
Chemical Analysis Lab.
• Evaluation of Physiochemical characteristics of 32 species of
Pomegranate germplasm, 68 accession of Citrus, 60 accession of
Grape, 11 accession of Guava and 66 accession of Olive
Physiochemical analysis included:
• Titratable Acidity (TA), pH, Soluble Solids Content (SSC), Plant
Material and Extraction, Seed Oil Extraction, Determination of the
Total Amount of Anthocyanin and Determinations of vitamin C
• Chemical assessment of 200 accession of (Alfalfa) Medicago
sativa L. collected from oases, 80 accession of Barley, more than
300 accession of Wheat, 20 accession of Sesame and 44
accession of faba bean.
Chemical analysis included:
• Moisture and dry matter content , Ash content, Determination of
total phenols, Determination of total Carbohydrate,
Determination of total Protein

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Other Organizations involved directly in plant genetic
resources 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.

30. 2. Botanical Gardens
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No.
Name of
Botanical Garden
Present
Area
(Feddan)*
Date
of Establishment
No. of
Species
1 Alex. Univ. Fac. of Sci. 2 1942 500
2 Aswan Garden 17 1928 371
3 El Saff Botanic Garden 17 1893 -
4 Orman Botanic Garden, Giza 28 1873 114
5 Qubba Palace, Cairo 124 1960 350
6 Sabahia Horticultural Research Station
- 1958 -
* Feddan = 4200 m2

31. Legislative Frame Work: Laws
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 Law No. 53 of 1966;
 Law No. 102 of 1983;
 Law No. 82 of 2002;

32. Legislative Frame Work (Ministerial Decrees)
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 Ministerial Decree No. 1920 of 2003;
 Ministerial Decree No. 335 of 2005;
 Ministerial Decree No. 862 of 2005;

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