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Jan Sveigaard Jensen

Forest and Landscape Research Institute, 2970 Hørsholm, Denmark



Introduction

This outline results from discussions at the Network meeting in Lourizán. It includes a list of common minimum descriptors suggested for Noble Hardwoods.

Countries and institutes will have their own databases with differently structured and detailed
information level, but the minimum set of descriptors should be common to all. A common Network
database, hosted by a volunteer institute may be established later.

In a list of descriptors for Ulmus, Nieto and Gil (1996) refer to IPGRI´s standard definitions of passport,
management, environment, characterization and evaluation descriptors. "Evaluation descriptors"
include most common genetic descriptors. Their proposal includes description of morphological data
on single trees.

Noble Hardwoods include several fruit tree species. Standard descriptor lists (IPGRI) for peach, apple
and cherry are primarily constructed for single tree description with a high number of describing
characters, particularly related to the economical importance.

Within forest tree breeding, several databases exist. They often include technical data, and need to be
maintained by trained specialists (SQL databases). They are constructed for single tree units as well,
however a limited number of characteristics is used. Some of these databases may easily be fitted to
gene conservation purposes.

Stand evaluation descriptors are proposed by Danida Forest Seed Center (1996). It can be argued that
stand be the basic unit for evaluation rather than a collective of well-described individuals. The stand
may be regarded as composed of single species being members of a complex system. Factors as life
history, management, ownership, geography, climate and regeneration may be very important
parameters for conservation purposes. The stand and its variability is the central unit for evaluation.
The descriptors may reflect the multipurpose use of the stand, its socio-economic value. These aspects
may be important for in situ conservation stands, but obviously no importance for pollen banks.

The group of Noble Hardwoods may be described as being very heterogeneous. Some of the species
are fragmented in their distribution, or even occupy marginal sites outside optimum habitats for the
respective species. Noble Hardwoods are often threatened by deforestation, improper forest
management, agriculture, etc. Another problem is the wide use of non-local provenances.

A simple list of descriptors, similarly to the model developed by the Picea abies Network, is proposed.
Then we suggest a number of additional descriptors which may be useful specifically for Noble
Hardwoods. This proposal for descriptors has been developed in discussion with Erik D. Kjær (Tree
Improvement Station) and Allan Breum Larsen (Danida Forest Seed Center) in Denmark.

Common minimum descriptors for genetic resources

1 Name of species

Including name of species, subspecies, etc.

2 Country where maintained

Name of country or three-letter official country abbreviation (ISO code).



3 Registration number

A national number identifying the genetic resource. As most countries have different systems for
different institutions and/or type of units, the registration number will consist of two parts, the first
one identifying the national system and the second the code within the system.

4 Name of genetic resource

4.1 The local name under which the genetic resource is known and name of locality or
municipality

4.2 Forest region or district, where applicable

5 Geographic location of site

5.1 Latitude

Degrees (° ) and minutes (‘) followed by N or S.

5.2 Longitude

Degrees (° ) and minutes (‘) followed by N or S.

5.3 Elevation

Lower altitude of site (m above sea level).

Upper altitude of site (m above sea level).

The geographic parameters refer to the site where the genetic resource is growing in the wild (in situ
and ex situ), or is stored.

6 Responsible institution and ownership

6.1 Name of institution responsible for identification and maintenance, and contact address

6.2 Ownership: forest owner, institution or ministry

7 Type and function of genetic resource

Categories are

in situ natural population(s) or plantation(s):

nature reserve

national park

protected area

gene reserve forest/ stand/ population

ex situ plantation:

one seed origin (known or unknown)

several seed origins, mixed

several seed origins, replicated, identity kept (provenance trial)

several families, replicated, identity kept (progeny trial)

several clones, replicated, identity kept (clonal trial)

ex situ collection:

clonal archive

seed orchard

seed bank

pollen bank

tissue bank

8 Site information

8.1 Total area of genetic resource in hectares, with one decimal if smaller area

Proportion of area covered by major species

Ecological zone/ecoregion

Climatic zone

Closest or most representative meteorological station.

9 Genetic evaluation

Have the genetic resources been evaluated genetically ?

If "yes" specify the type of evaluation: provenance, progeny or clonal test, biochemical or molecular
characterizations.

10 Date of approval

Date on which the genetic resource was approved (in the format YYYYMMDD)

Remarks

The term genetic resources is used to denote all collections of biological material that are managed
with gene conservation objectives in mind; including natural populations, plantations, clonal banks,
seed and pollen collections. The descriptors proposed are not intended for individual families,
genotypes, individual seed or pollen lots. Only a few of the proposed descriptors are coded into a
specific format. No attempts are made to produce a standardized coding system of all descriptors.
Conservation and utilization of genetic resources has to be applied according to several objectives,
especially if dealing with as heterogeneous a group as Noble Hardwoods. Different methods will be
applicable at the same time, and it is not possible to identify a set of common descriptors that are
meaningful or can be used for all types of genetic resources. A set of additional or voluntary
descriptors is given below.

Suggestions for additional or voluntary descriptors

for genetic resources

Original seed source

Ex situ stands may be composed of many different seed origins or single. This may indicate the
geographical representation. Such data may be overwhelming, and are not compulsory.

Status of conservation

Danger of extinction – IUCN status category.

Regeneration

Natural regeneration, replanting.

Tree data

- Age: young-middle aged-old

- Size: (dimension – distribution)

- Numbers: (numbers at regeneration stage).

Topography

- Slope

- Mountain, hill, upland, plain, plateau, basin, valley.

Soil texture

- Sand, loamy sand, silty loam, loam, clay loam, clay

- Stoniness.


Additional use of the area

The area may be used for conservation of wildlife, etc. Point 6 (see minimum descriptors above) could
include more specific information about area utilization.

Management regime

- Recent and earlier land-use history: high forest, coppice forest

- Required management: thinning, removal of unwanted species

- Game management.

Threats

- Inbreeding, species competition, pollution

- Status of protection: undisturbed, disturbed.

Isolation

- Barriers for the control of geneflow and the invasion of species/ 

provenances

- Genepool in danger of contamination (currently) – potentially ().

Year of establishment

Seed crop

Light – medium – heavy.

Associated species

Noble Hardwoods often exist in mixtures influencing each other.





References

Danida Forest Seed Center. 1996. Note on Field Assessment of Ex Situ conservation stands.
Evaluation of the FAO coordinated ex situ forest genetic resources conservation programme.

Garcia Nieto, M.E. and L. Gil. 1996. Descriptors for elm. Dpto. de Selvicultura. E.T.S.I. Montes,
Madrid, Spain.

Schmidt, H., J. Vittrup-Christensen, R. Watkins and R.A. Smith. 1985. Cherry descriptor list.
IBPGR Secretariat, Rome, Italy.

Turok, J. and V. Koski. 1997. Picea abies Network. Report of the second meeting, 5-7 September
1996, Hyytiälä, Finland. IPGRI, Rome, Italy.