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Genetic resources in breeding for adaptation

  • Genetic Resource for Adaptation
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Summary

A crop's ability to productively exploit its environment depends on many adaptive features which are controlled by multiple genes, interacting among themselves and with the environment in complex ways.

To promote widespread adoption, breeders frequently seek to develop broad adaptation in their varieties, often through the use of genes having a large effect on a single adaptive feature. Such genes may occur within the crop, its wild relatives, or unrelated taxa. Genes for many adaptive features (e.g. temperature tolerance) may be found in extreme environments. Others (e.g. photoperiod insensitivity) may have evolved away from primary centres of origin.

Well characterized and documented ex situ germplasm collections aim to serve plant breeders' need for genes. Molecular marker and geographic information system (GIS) techniques are proving useful for locating and characterizing genetic diversity. New techniques (e.g. core collections and electronic information systems) are adding to the value of collections. Ex situ and in situ conservation of wild crop relatives are receiving increased attention. With all organisms becoming a potential source of genes for breeding, in situ ecosystem conservation is assuming added significance.

Farmers, particularly in diverse, marginal environments in developing countries, continue to breed landraces adapted to their specific circumstances. In areas of high ecological diversity, a multitude of adaptive gene complexes have been selected within small geographic areas. Conventional breeding frequently neglects such farmers, and participatory methods based on locally adapted diversity, coupled with appropriate technical and policy support, may prove more effective in meeting their needs. Such dynamic, on-farm conservation and management systems would also enable genetic diversity to continue to evolve as a resource for conventional breeding.

For genetic resources to remain a foundation for future sustainable agricultural development, complementary conservation and breeding strategies are needed.

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  1. International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome, Italy

    Geoffrey Hawtin, M. Iwanaga & T. Hodgkin

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  1. Geoffrey Hawtin
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  2. M. Iwanaga
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  3. T. Hodgkin
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Hawtin, G., Iwanaga, M. & Hodgkin, T. Genetic resources in breeding for adaptation. Euphytica 92, 255–266 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00022853

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