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English

AFLP fingerprinting of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) from undisturbed Dutch grasslands: implications for conservation Undisturbed grasslands are considered rich sources of promising genotypes for the development of new varieties of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.). Grasslands that have not been resown with commercial cultivars nor treated with high doses of nitrogen fertilizer have become rare in the Netherlands. In 1998, a survey among farms still in agricultural use revealed the existence of about 50 such grasslands that were designated “old Dutch grasslands”. AFLPs were used to study the genetic diversity among 194 plants from 12 old Dutch grasslands in comparison with 81 plants from undisturbed grasslands from 5 Dutch nature reserves and 220 plants from 11 reference cultivars that played an important role in the development of Dutch grasslands. Of the 275 samples from undisturbed grasslands, 151 plants (55%) displayed genotypes that could be matched with those of reference cultivars or were observed in multiple grasslands, suggesting a widespread occurrence of different genotypes. Based on the observed extent of overlap in genetic diversity and because grasslands from nature reserves are already under protective measures, no specific in situ conservation measures were recommended for old Dutch grasslands. However, from the group of grassland plants that could not be matched with the reference cultivars, 46 genotypes unique to single grasslands and 13 genotypes observed in multiple grasslands were maintained for ex situ conservation in order to extend the small genebank collection of Kentucky bluegrass in the Netherlands. By  R. van Treuren   Article published on No.153, 2008 in English Page 1 to 8 [Read more...]

French

Morphological variability in dry season sorghum (Muskwari) in North Cameroon Transplanted sorghum (Sorgho bicolor), commonly called muskwari in Cameroon, is an important cereal crop on the vertisols of North Cameroon. One hundred and sixty-two ecotypes of muskwari from a local collection were evaluated in the dry seasons of 1999 and 2000 at Salak, Maroua, North Cameroon. ICRISAT-IBPGR descriptors for sorghum were used as references for the observations. Analysis of variance showed a significant difference between cultivars for the six characters studied. Mean values and correlation coefficients between the characters were studied. The number of days to 50% flowering strongly correlated with dry-matter yield. Panicle length correlated postively and highly significantly with grain yield. Principal component analysis was used to identify different groups of cultivars on the basis of the characters studied. The three components accounted for 74.3 % of the total variation. The ecotypes were classified into five groups. The results demonstrated a very strong variability of the ecotypes. Development across the selections, within and between populations, resulted in varieties with higher potential yields that were well adapted to the fluctuating agroclimatic conditions in the sudano-sahelian and sahelian zones of North Cameroon. By  R. Kenga   G. Djorowe   Article published on No.153, 2008 in English Page 9 to 14 [Read more...]

English

Rhynchosia minima (L.) DC. – regeneration, characterization and potential uses for natural products and flavonoids Least snout bean, Rhynchosia minima, has been used very little worldwide, including the USA. Wild species of least snout bean genotypes are known to be native to the south-eastern USA, but none have been collected and deposited in the USDA, ARS, PGRCU collection. The PGRCU maintains 26 least snout bean accessions from Mexico, Central America, Caribbean Islands, and South America. Twenty-one accessions of least snout bean were transplanted as approximately 44-day-old seedlings to the field in Griffin, GA, USA, around 01 June 1998, 2001, 2002 and 2003. After 3 to 4 months, the accessions were characterized for morphological traits and evaluated for seed regeneration. High quality plants regenerated from all accessions produced from 3 to more than 23 000 total seeds per plot. Least snout bean can be successfully grown and regenerated in Griffin. Least snout bean has potential to be used in numerous ways, including for pharmaceuticals and other agricultural products. Natural products such as gallic acid identified in least snout bean pods and seeds may fight colon cancer, while the flavonoid, isovitexin, may reduce inflammation, as well as carcinogenesis. By  J.B. Morris   Article published on No.153, 2008 in English Page 15 to 19 [Read more...]

English

Improving the quality of passport data of a genebank collection: approaches at CGN Improving the quality of passport data is important because complete and reliable passport data enhance effective management and use of genebank germplasm collections. In this paper, the methods that are used to update passport data and the problems encountered during this process are described and discussed. Passport data of the CGN collections were temporarily extracted from the database system to a spreadsheet in order to perform the update. Field formats and definitions were reviewed before changing data. Curators obtained new information from old logbooks, original collecting forms and online databases. For the fruit vegetable collections, a total of 101 808 passport fields were reviewed. Before the update was carried out, about one-third of the passport fields were filled. During the update, 2 381 values were removed, 9 688 new entries made and 3 595 existing values changed. Most changes were made in passport fields concerning origin and taxonomy. Often “information of the donor” was stated as origin information. The considerable amount of erroneous data illustrates the importance of checking and updating passport documentation. A ‘Documentation Index’ (DI) was used to score data quality before and after the update. The DI proved to be a useful tool to determine quality of passport data sets. By  Willem van Dooijeweert   Frank Menting   Article published on No.153, 2008 in English Page 20 to 27 [Read more...]

French

Study of reproductive vigour in natural populations of Allium roseum in Tunisia This study characterised the morphological variability and reproductive potential of several natural populations of Allium roseum in Tunisia. Eleven accessions originating from various bioclimatic locations were planted on an experimental plot near the Institut des Régions Arides de Médenine, Tunisia. Seed production and bulb characteristics were studied in 20 plants of each accession. Statistical analysis (ANOVA and multivariate analysis) showed evidence of a highly negative correlation between seed and bulb propagation. Variability within populations was very marked; similarly, variability between populations was large and independent of geographic origin of the accessions studied; as a result they proved to be highly useful as descriptors for this species. By  Arbi Guetet   Mohamed Neffati   Mohamed Boussaid   Article published on No.153, 2008 in English Page 28 to 35 [Read more...]

English

Effects of silica gel, sun drying and storage conditions on viability of egusi seeds (Cucurbitaceae) The conservation of oily seeds in clay pots was compared with conventional conservation in a coldroom at the Agricultural Research Centre of South Benin, Niaouli, after drying with silica gel and insolation. Seeds of four varieties belonging to three species of egusi, Lagenaria siceraria, Cucumeropsis edulis and Citrullus lanatus subsp. mucosospermus (Cucurbitaceae) were dried under direct sunlight or over silica gel at three ratios. The viability of seeds was tested immediately after drying and after three, nine and twelve months of storage in clay pot and in a coldroom. Drying over silica gel significantly reduced the moisture content of the seeds, but solar drying also gave acceptable results. Citrullus lanatus tolerates low moisture content (3.6%) and can be stored at low temperature (10°C) and ambient conditions (25–27°C). However, a water content of <5% implied loss of viability in Cucumeropsis edulis when stored in a coldroom; storage in a clay pot gave 76 to 95% germination. In L. siceraria seeds, behaviour varies according to the variety. L. siceraria cv. Grande gourde did not store well in a coldroom with a seed moisture content <7%. L. siceraria cv. Petite gourde showed no particular sensitivity to the different drying and storage procedures. Germination after drying and storage was comparable to the initial germination percentage. By  R.S. Vodouhe   G.E. Achigan Dako   Ehsan M. Dulloo   A. Kouke   Article published on No.153, 2008 in English Page 36 to 42 [Read more...]

English

Propagation conditions for mass multiplication of three threatened Himalayan high value medicinal herbs Aconitum heterophyllum Wall., Angelica glauca Edgew. and Heracleum candicans Wall. are high value medicinal plant species of Himalayan origin. Owing to great demand for them as pharmaceuticals and in traditional medicine, these plants are under severe in situ harvesting pressure and have been listed as endangered in the region. Ex situ cultivation of threatened medicinal plants is recognized as a priority intervention to support their in situ conservation as well as to provide a sustainable supply of the raw material. For developing large-scale production of planting material of the selected species, suitable propagation conditions were investigated. Emergence, growth, biomass and survival of seedlings of the species were assessed under polyhouse, nethouse and open conditions, using seed of two populations for each species. The results show that polyhouse propagation gave best emergence in all three species. The seedlings of A. heterophyllum and H. candicans produced in the polyhouse should be transferred to the nethouse or open condition for better survival and subsequent growth. By  Jitendra S. Butola   Hemant K. Badola   Short Communication published on No.153, 2008 in English Page 43 to 47 [Read more...]

English

Collecting crop genetic resources in the Mediterranean agricultural islands: Corsica (Part II – Southern Corsica) A second exploration in Corsica in September 2004 continued the collection of crop genetic resources started with the expedition of September 2003 in northern Corsica. Both expeditions are related to the project started in 2002 in the Maltese archipelago, aimed at the safeguard of autochthonous crop genetic resources still present in Mediterranean islands. In general, strong crop genetic erosion was observed in the whole of Corsica, but this phenomenon was more severe in the southern part. Only 16 accessions were in fact collected, much fewer than the 112 accessions found during the previous expedition in northern Corsica. A comparison is also made with crop genetic resources found in the neighbouring island of Sardinia, during previous expeditions that were made in the framework of the project for the safeguard of plant genetic resources of Italian small islands. By  S. Bullitta   G. Laghetti   S. Cifarelli   H. Nivaggioli   K. Hammer   Short Communication published on No.153, 2008 in English Page 48 to 54 [Read more...]

French

Prospecting for local pear (Pyrus communis L.) in east central (Sahel) Tunisia In Tunisia, local pear (Pyrus communis L.) is traditionally grown mainly in the Sahel (centre east) region, which is characterised by winters that are quite mild. This species has not been studied in detail in spite of being well-adapted to the soils and climate of the region and producing good quality fruit. This study analyzed the current status of this crop and prepared an inventory of local cultivars. Orchards examined were mostly small, quite old, lacking irrigation and little cared for; pear trees were at risk of being replaced by alternative crops considered to be more profitable. The searches identified several local cultivars. Some of these were very rare and need urgent attention to safeguard and develop them. By  Brini Wafa   Messaoud Mars   Short Communication published on No.153, 2008 in English Page 55 to 60 [Read more...]

English

Exploration and collecting expeditions on Montecristo, Gorgona and Giannutri islands (Italy) In autumn 2005 and spring 2006 a collecting team of the Institute of Plant Genetics (IGV) of Bari (Italy) and Kassel University (Germany) carried out three distinct collecting expeditions to the islands of Montecristo, Giannutri and Gorgona (Italy). The research was planned within the special programme “Safeguarding crop genetic resources of Italian small islands”, begun in 1994. Montecristo is one of the most unblemished natural habitats in Europe. Two of most probable threats to its autochthonous vegetation might be fire and goats. Gorgona, the most luxuriant of the Tuscan archipelago, has an agricultural penal colony. Nowadays, agriculture and cattle breeding are still present, but carried out by the prisoners working both for production and as part of their rehabilitation. Gorgona, even if it is a small island, has great agricultural potential thanks to its climate and biodiversity. Since 1989, Giannutri has been a national marine park, frequented primarily during the summer and mainly by tourists, while the population in winter is about ten people. For this reason, local agriculture is almost non-existent, with only the remains of vineyards, olive groves and vegetable gardens visible. In addition, no springs are present, so that the island is effectively barren. In conclusion, the economic profile of today’s Tuscan archipelago is represented by a wide­spread tourist industry, to agriculture’s detriment. By  G. Laghetti   S. Cifarelli   K. Hammer   Short Communication published on No.153, 2008 in English Page 61 to 66 [Read more...]

English

Survey and collection of indigenous spice germplasm for conservation and genetic improvement in Nigeria Survey missions were undertaken between 2000 and 2003 to all the major spice producing areas of Nigeria, covering five different agro-ecological zones (mangrove swamp; rain forest; and derived, Guinea and Sudan savannah types) when the farmers were expected to be harvesting relevant crops. The survey covered 15 States, with 217 respondents interviewed. The respondents include major stakeholders in the spice industry, namely farmers, local pot-herb merchants, traditional doctors, hotels and restaurants. In all, 26 plant species from 20 genera from 15 families were identified in use as spices in Nigeria. Accessions of the different species were collected for conservation. The survey showed that the species occurrence in the forests of the study areas varied among ecological zones. The bulk of the spices grown are found in the southern rainforest zone of Nigeria, suggesting this zone as a major repository of genetic diversity of Nigerian spices. Major constraints to production of these spices according to the farmers include the non-availability of planting materials, natural seed dormancy problems, and post-harvest processing procedures adopted by those using the spices. Further scientific studies and characterization of these accessions is necessary to group them into known varieties, which will provide the resources required for future spice improvement programmes. By  B.A. Adelaja   I.O. Fasidi   Short Communication published on No.153, 2008 in English Page 67 to 71 [Read more...]

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This newsletter, published under the joint auspices of the Bioversity International (Bioversity) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), features articles and reviews of developments in plant genetic resources, book reviews, news and notes on Bioversity activities.