The collection of forages in the CIAT genebank currently includes 127 genera and 700 species of plants, mainly from the family of legumes. These genetic materials are wild species, with morphology and physiology still far from cultivated plants, and require special handling. Since 1978, when the forage germplasm is fully integrated to the genetic collections in charge of Genetic Resources Program, different methodologies have been developed for adaptation and multiplication of 23,139 materials of the 700 species. Since we don’t know in advance what users may ask, this implies the conservation of the entire collection and its availability at any time (84,334 samples distributed to date to users in 105 countries). The access to materials and the distribution are done through a mechanism established with the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture of the United Nations (FAO), and the Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario (ICA), particularly for matters relating to plant health.
The responsibility to conserve this heritage (of 75 countries to date) and to distribute samples of it has several implications, rarely satisfied with the original material. The original seed must be increased while preserving its original genetic integrity, and ensuring its plant health and viability at the highest level, to allow the international distribution. Therefore, we must avoid mechanical mixtures, genetic contamination by accidental crosses, the genetic drift and genetic erosion within the accession. As good practice in germplasm banks, additional copies are produced for safety backups and for the country of origin if required. From the same lot of seeds increased under these conditions subsamples will emerge for the regular verification of viability. Given the size and diversity of the collection a timeline of 25 years has been defined as the sustainability basis for all operations, including those of the Production Group.
To accomplish these objectives, the Production Group currently has three stations with contrasting environments in Palmira, Popayan and Santander de Quilichao. Also, it has glass-houses and mesh-houses in Palmira, for the processes of multiplication. We take advantage of these production cycles to verify the identity of the species, advance the characterization of germplasm through the use of morphoagronomic descriptors, which will be reflected on the website of the Program, and will serve for the future management of the collection. This characterization is part of the verification of the diversity of the collection, being thus an important aspect of relevance for the Program.
Coordinator: Ciprian Romero , Arsenio