Agricultural Biodiversity Weblog

October 14, 2014October 13, 2014

Historical maize information online

The core set of the Races of Maize volumes were a result of investigations by Maize Geneticists and were published by the National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences between 1952 and 1963. The set represents a unique source of information, which characterizes and describes the races of maize and their respective geographic origins. These volumes have been out of print and unavailable to researchers for decades. The Maize Crop Germplasm Committee (CGC) recognized the importance of the availability of this scientific literature and recommended that they be electronically reproduced and distributed via the National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.

And a great idea that is too. I was given a nice CD-ROM by Dr Candy Gardener of the USDA genebank in Ames, Iowa. But you can also access the PDFs online. It’s a real treasure-trove. Happy browsing!

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October 13, 2014October 13, 2014

Brainfood: Biogeoinformatics, FGR review, Lesser pulses, Slovak orchards, Wheat evaluation network, Iranian olives, Beans & FIGS, Blasted rice, Tibetan pigs, Alpine grass, Development as freedom

Biogeoinformatics of livestock genomic resources. Don’t forget the “geo” bit. Goes for plants as well!
Utilization and transfer of forest genetic resources: A global review. They’ve been going on for 200 years, but we’ll need provenance trials and conventional breeding more than ever in the future. Phytosanitary risks involved in tree germplasm movement are now better managed, but the big problem in the future will be Nagoya. Molecular assisted breeding? Meh.
Genomics and molecular breeding in lesser explored pulse crops: Current trends and future opportunities. We’re mostly still awaiting our jetpacks.
Orchards as traces of traditional agricultural landscape in Slovakia. About half are left, but they won’t save themselves.
A wheat phenotyping network to incorporate physiological traits for climate change in South Asia. Local checks significantly earlier than the best CIMMYT can offer. Evaluate the whole genebank?
Genetic structure of Iranian olive cultivars and their relationship with Mediterranean’s cultivars revealed by SSR markers. The N Iran cultivars are different from everything else.
Leaf traits associated with drought adaptation in faba bean (Vicia faba L.). Chalk up another success for FIGS.
Large scale germplasm screening for identification of novel rice blast resistance sources. 289 out of 4246 accessions showed resistance against all five rice blast isolates. The 4246 chosen on basis of “annotated rice blast resistance information” from the IRRI genebank. No word on whether FIGS was considered.
Genetic Variation of EPAS1 Gene in Tibetan Pigs and Three Low-Altitude Pig Breeds in China. One haplotype seems to be particularly associated with high altitude adaptation. Unclear if that is a really important objective of pig breeding around the world.
Morpho-physiological variation of Poa alpina L. genetic resources from the Rhaetian Alps, Italy, grown in two altitude-contrasting sites. There was more variation within than among populations, and it’s ok to do seed production for high altitude sites at low altitudes. No word on whether same could be said for alpine pigs.
Protection of Traditional Knowledge and Origin Products in Developing Countries: Matching Human Rights and IP Protection with Business Development Opportunities. It’s all in the value chain.

October 6, 2014September 26, 2014

Brainfood: Polyculture services, Apple resistance, Clover seed storage, Oil palm diversity, Alternative foods in Italy, Oregano chemicals, Pig diversity, IPR and indigenous people

Do polycultures promote win-wins or trade-offs in agricultural ecosystem services? A meta-analysis. Yes, at least if the services in question are per-plant yield and biocontrol.
Susceptibility of apple genotypes from European genetic resources to fire blight (Erwinia amylovora). 3 of 40 were resistant.
Effect of sulphuric acid scarification on seed accessions of cluster clover (Trifolium glomeratum) stored in a genebank. Potentially disastrous.
Genetic diversity of the world’s largest oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) field genebank accessions using microsatellite markers. 3 groups: extreme W Africa, rest of Africa, Madagascar. Choose parents based on genetic distance, though, not just genetic group.
Introducing territorial and historical contexts and critical thresholds in the analysis of conservation of agro-biodiversity by Alternative Food Networks, in Tuscany, Italy. Alternative Food Networks can contribute to conservation, but they need context.
Chemical diversity among different accessions of Origanum vulgare L. ssp. vulgare collected from Central Himalayan region of Uttarakhand, India. 2 chemotypes, the one with higher thymol mainly from higher altitudes.
Merging Molecular Data for Evaluating Cross Country Genetic Diversity of Pigs. Microsatellite datasets from USA, China and Brazil successfully combined and analyzed together. Should be more of this kind of thing.
How Are Indigenous and Local Communities’ Rights Over Their Traditional Knowledge and Genetic Resources Protected in Current Free Trade Negotiations? Highlighting the Draft Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TTPA). Indigenous people are generally not given stronger rights over their intellectual property in international instruments compared to non-indigenous people. Rights over IP are in general stronger than over genetic resources.

October 6, 2014

Follow the genebank managers’ fun

What’s the collective noun for a roomful of genebank managers? An accession? No, that can’t be right.

Whatever it is, you can follow along with the fun at the Twitter hashtag #agm2014.

October 1, 2014

Mapping the European genetic resources landscape

Following an initiative tabled by the European Parliament in 2013, the European Commission (DG Agriculture and Rural Development) contracted a “Preparatory action on EU plant and animal genetic resources in agriculture”. The project was launched in July 2014 for a period of two years.

Wow. The European Parliament interested in enough in agricultural biodiversity to invest a couple million euros in a study which is going to start by “identifying and mapping existing initiatives, databases, and collections related to genetic resources, as well as relevant stakeholders,” and take it from there. Watch this space…