Genebanks

October 15, 2009October 15, 2009

Crop wild relative helps Kew reach 10% milestone

Kew Gardens’ Millennium Seed Bank has reached its target of collecting 10% of the world’s wild plants, with seeds of a pink banana among its latest entries.

Congratulations, and happy birthday Kew! Interestingly, the wild banana in question, Musa itinerans, is also found in a genebank in Thailand, apparently as a breeder’s line, so it may well be useful in crop improvement.

LATER: Ok, this is why I talk ¹ about genebank database hell. Musa itinerans is in the Musa Germplasm Information System, fourteen accessions of it, ² conserved in vitro at the International Transit Centre, and in China and the Philippines. But it seems it is not in SINGER, for some reason, which is where I first looked for it. And neither of these two sources seem to have made it to WIEWS.

LATER STILL: And 3 specimens in botanic gardens. GBIF disappointing, only a couple of MoBo sheets. Literature suggests it might be a source of cold resistance, and maybe disease resistance too.

October 13, 2009

The Kew publicity machine hits overdrive

Yes, there’s a twitter feed. Another video on youtube. A splurge on the BBC. And this teaser on Facebook:

On Thursday, Kew will announce a major conservation milestone for mankind. Any guesses?

I’m not sure about that, but I’m looking forward to the continued unfolding of the Royal Botanic Gardens’ new communications strategy, I must say.

October 12, 2009October 12, 2009

Nibbles: Teaching vegetables, Truffles, Freakonomics of farmer markets, Crops used for art, Seed storage, Organic farming in Spain, 2050

Pamela Akinyi Nyagilo wins prize for teaching Kenyan kids to grow indigenous greens. In 2007, but better late with the news than never.
The Great War did for truffles?
“Does a local food system truly enhance the integrity of a community, much less make the peasant the equal of a prince and eliminate greed?” And more. And more. And more. And…
Crop art, and more. And more.
Brassica seeds survive 40 years in a genebank with no loss of viability. Phew.
“It seems that, while discount and low-end retailers face more difficulties selling organic products, specialised organic shops and high-end retailers continue to develop beyond expectations.”
“As Andy Jarvis, an award-winning crop scientist, puts it: ‘When you look at the graph, under even small average heat rises, the line for maize just goes straight down.’ “

October 6, 2009October 6, 2009

Nibbles: Livestock photos, Rice, Beer, Oca, Potatoes, Beer, Fermentation, Aquaculture, Chinese food, Citrus

ILRI images are online.
Rice farmers in Lao get an airing on Public Radio International.
Tonto: expanding head banana beer.
Rhizowen’s ongoing oca saga.
“Intellectual property vital for agricultural innovation.” Er .. riiiiiiight.
Instead of whinging, as we would, Laurent subverts the Blogger Bioblitz by including potatoes.
The British National Hop Collection comes in useful. Hey, you had me at hops.
Make better kimchi and the world will beat a path to your door.
How many species of aquatic animals do you think farmers use in SE Asia?
Labeling caviar.
China’s food culture on the move.
California’s oranges in big trouble.

October 1, 2009October 1, 2009

Kew on the tubes

Kew Gardens has a new YouTube channel. Here’s the introductory video on the Millennium Seed Bank. Check out also the Facebook page. And, apparently, a new website is coming very soon. Part of the 250th anniversary hoopla? Whatever the reason, great public awareness work by Kew.