This document discusses germplasm evaluation and conservation. It describes how germplasm is collected through exploration and conserved through both in situ and ex situ methods. Key steps in germplasm evaluation include characterization, identification of traits for stress resistance and quality, and documentation. Agencies like NBPGR and IPGRI work to evaluate, document, and store germplasm globally in facilities like the Svalbard Global Seed Vault to preserve crop diversity.

1. GERMPLASM EVALUATION
R.KAVIYARASI
MSC AGRI

2. GERMPLASM ACTIVITIES
Exploration and collection
conservation
Evaluation
Documentation
Distribution
Utilisation

3. EXPLORATION AND COLLECTION
Exploration refers to collection trips and collection
refer to tapping of genetic diversity from various
sources
and various sources and assembling the same at one
place.

4. CONSERVATION
Conservation refers to protection of genetic diversity of
crop plants from genetic erosion.
They are
Insitu conservation
Ex situ conservation

5. Insitu conservation :
Conservation of germplasm under natural habitat
is referred as an in- situ conservation.
Example : Natural parks
Ex - Situ Conservation :
It refers to preservation of germplasm in gene
banks . The Germplasm is conserved either in the form
of seed or in the meristem cultures

7. GENETIC EROSION
Gradual reduction in genetic variability due to
elimination of various genotypes.
It results due to use of modern cultivars ,
modernization of agriculture and various development
activities.

9. EVALUATION
Evaluation refers to screening of germplasm in respect
of morphological, genetical , economic, biochemical,
physiological , pathological, and entomological attributes.
To get a clear picture about the significance of
individual germplasm line.

10. To identify gene sources for resistance to biotic and
abiotic stresses , earliness , dwarfness , productivity
quality characters.
Germplasm cataloguing – Each germplasm is
an accession number. This number is pre fixed in India
either IC ( Indigenous collection) , EC ( Exotic
IW ( Indigenous wild).

11. Information on the species and variety names ,
places, origin, adaptation and on its various features
descriptors is also recorded in the Germplasm
maintenance records.
Catalogues of the Germplasm collection for
crops are published by the gene banks

12. STEPS IN GERMPLASM EVALUATION
Passport data form : ( site identification data,
Collector ‘s No, Type of material and status, Growing
condition – soil, topography, source ( field / farm store/
Institute)

14. Characterization ( heritage characters)
Spike shape , seed shape , seed colour..

15. AGENCIES ASSOCIATED WITH GERMPLASM
International Plant Genetic Resources Institute ( IPGRI),
Rome ,Italy
National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources ( NBPGR),
New Delhi, India.

16. GLOBAL SEED VAULT, NORWAY
It is a long-term seed storage facility,built to stand
the
test of time and the challenge of natural or man-made
disasters. The seed vault represents the world ‘s largest
collection of crop diversity.

19. DOCUMENTATION
Documentation refers to compilation, analysis,
Classification, storage and dissemination of information.
It provides information about various activities of
Plant genetic resources.
It helps in making genetic resources accessible to plant
breeders and other users.

20. DISTRIBUTION
The distribution of germplasm is one of the important
activities of genetic resources centres.
The specific germplasm lines are supplied to the users
on demand for utilization in the crop improvement
programs.

21. UTILISATION
Utilisation refers to use of germplasm in crop
improvement
programs.