Are seeds applicable as a back-up of clonally maintained germplasm? PANEL DISCUSSION Kim, Mark, Christopher, Maria Objective: To discuss if and when seeds may be used as a back-up of vegetatively maintained germplasm. What other options do we have to securely store genetic resources maintained as clonal germplasm.

1. Importance of clonal-back up Why clonally maintained accessions should be backed-up as vegetative propagules 2. Would a seed back-up of clonally maintained accessions be complimentary or it may replace vegetative propagules 3. What should we consider? What are the conservation targets?

Importance of clones Why clonally maintained accessions should be backed-up as vegetative propagules Specific qualities of the genotype ONLY VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION WILL DO

Importance of clones ONLY VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION WILL DO

Importance of clones ONLY VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION WILL DO Eat your pigments!

Clones or species Species diversity Representative of the species SEED Pears from Armenia

Clones or Species Species diversity Representative of the species SEED Fragaria iinumae, Hokkaido

Clones or species Species diversity Representative of the species SEED Vaccinium hirsutum, Georgia

Both Clones and Seeds! Clonal representation of specific genotypes Seeds for species diversity

WHEN WOULD SEED PRODUCTION FROM CLONALLY-MAINTAINED ACCESSIONS COMPLEMENT OR POTENTIALLY REPLACE VEGETATIVE PROPAGULES?  A few points to consider…

CAN WE VERIFY THAT THE CLONE IS BEING MAINTAINED BECAUSE OF ITS SPECIFIC GENOTYPE?  Certain clones might be maintained more for convenience, fitting in with a larger, clonal management system…

DOES THE CLONE PRODUCE SEEDS THAT STORE WELL?  Two issues here:  The ability to produce seeds (sterility, dioecy)  Seed-storage characteristics

POPULATION-LEVEL CONSIDERATIONS  Is the clone a member of a larger population?  Are there other members of that population available and can the clone be mated with them?

WHEN THERE IS NO “LARGER POPULATION”  Can the clone produce apomictic seeds?  Can the clone self-pollinate?  Self-incompatibility  Inbreeding depression

What is the conservation target?  Genes  Genotypes  Lineages

As an option what are the trade offs involved?  Cost of supporting clonal propagation  Risk of loss  Immediate utility vs long term backup

What is the accession history ?  Sample context  Population structure

2 Clones from a Recombining population Sampling issue in clonal conservation

China: Hupehensis: 129 Kansuensis: 2 Prattii: 29 Sieboldii: 53 Toringoides: 68 Transitoria: 20 Zhaojiaoensis: 24 Kazakhstan: Sieversii: Kirghisorum: 7 Turkey: Orientalis: 504 Germany: Sylvestris 47 Wild Malus Accessions