1. PRT 2008 Lecture 8

2. Genetic resources

3. Genetic material of actual or potential value

4. Germplasm The term to describe DNA of an organism.

5. Genetic material Any material or plant, animal or microbial containing functional unit of heredity

6. Biodiversity Variability among living organism. It contains 3 aspects – habitat biodiversity, genetic biodiversity, species biodiversity

7. Significance of biodiversity It supports the healthy function of the earth’s ecosystem It supports the healthy function of the earth’s ecosystem Without biologically viable world human will not exist Without biologically viable world human will not exist Biodiversity provides services that maintains life on the earth Biodiversity provides services that maintains life on the earth Biodiversity provides human with esthetic benefit Biodiversity provides human with esthetic benefit

8. Economic benefit Crops Crops Domestic animals Domestic animals Medicine Medicine Natural products – wild life, fish, timber Natural products – wild life, fish, timber Some 10,000 species of plants and animals are exploited industrially Some 10,000 species of plants and animals are exploited industrially

9. Importance of genetic resource Genetics as units of inheritance control characters in biological organism Genetics as units of inheritance control characters in biological organism It help increase agricultural production by altering genetic constitution. Rice, barley, wheat cotton and sugarcane double. Tomato and rubber triple. Corn, sorghum and potato quadruple. It help increase agricultural production by altering genetic constitution. Rice, barley, wheat cotton and sugarcane double. Tomato and rubber triple. Corn, sorghum and potato quadruple.

10. Cont. Pest resistance. To maintain productivity requires constant input of new genetic material to overcome crop losses to pest that become pesticide resistant.

11. Cont. Overall crop breeding programs add billions to world agricultural production

12. Cont. Related to green revolution. Norman Borlaug (Nobel Laureate) speculated that by breeding genes we can increase productivity.

13. Types of genetic resources Wild relatives – other species from the same genus of plant/animal Wild relatives – other species from the same genus of plant/animal Weedy relative – bridge between wild relatives and crop Weedy relative – bridge between wild relatives and crop Primitive – local type Primitive – local type Modern cultivars Modern cultivars Advanced breeding lines Advanced breeding lines

14. Where are the genetic resources? Available in areas of diversity – places where many types of biological organism exist Available in areas of diversity – places where many types of biological organism exist This is called diversity centers or Diversity hot spots (25 in the world) This is called diversity centers or Diversity hot spots (25 in the world)

15. Diversity hot spots North and central America North and central America South America South America Europe and central Asia Europe and central Asia Africa Africa Mainland Asia Mainland Asia Asia Pacific Asia Pacific

16. Center of Plant Origin/Diversity In an area where high diversity of a particular plant type existed, that area could be the origin of that particular plant. There are 8 centers.

17. Chinese Center Soybean, Orange, tea

18. Indian Center Paddy, egg plant, cucumber, pepper, coco yam, banana, coconut

19. Central Asiatic Center Wheat, pea, carrot, apple

20. Near Eastern Center Wheat, barley, melon, grape

21. Mediterranean Center Wheat, cabbage, broad bean

22. Abyssinian Center Wheat, barley and coffee

23. South Mexican and Central America Center Corn, chili, pumpkin

24. South American Center Sweet potato, tomato, potato, papaya, tobacco, tapioca, groundnut, rubber, cocoa, pineapple

25. The demise of the centers of origin Do not always occupy a limited area Do not always occupy a limited area Do not always coincide Do not always coincide There are secondary centers due to long history of continuous cultivation, ecological diversity, human diversity and introgression with wild relatives There are secondary centers due to long history of continuous cultivation, ecological diversity, human diversity and introgression with wild relatives

26. The need for conservation All genetic variation originates from vegetation All genetic variation originates from vegetation Mutation are random Mutation are random Genetic variation is essential for evolution Genetic variation is essential for evolution Large amount of variation present in natural population Large amount of variation present in natural population

27. Species 1.7 million identified 1.7 million identified I million are animals I million are animals 250,000 are plants 250,000 are plants 69,000 and fungi 69,000 and fungi About 750,000 of the animals are insects About 750,000 of the animals are insects Each species is given a name – corn (Zea mays) Each species is given a name – corn (Zea mays)

28. New species About 10,000 are discovered every year

29. Species diversity Species are not evenly distributed. It increases as you moved towards the Equator

30. Threat to diversity Species are dying due to multiple causes

31. Causes Natural extinction due to competition and natural disasters Natural extinction due to competition and natural disasters Human intervention causes habitat destruction Human intervention causes habitat destruction Invaded by exotic weeds Invaded by exotic weeds Use of modern varieties lead to reduction in diversity Use of modern varieties lead to reduction in diversity

32. Techniques to conserve genetic resources In situ – conservation of important genetic resources in wild population. It is often associated with traditional subsistence agriculture. In situ – conservation of important genetic resources in wild population. It is often associated with traditional subsistence agriculture. Ex situ – conservation of genetic resources off- site in gene bank, often in long-term storage as seed. Ex situ – conservation of genetic resources off- site in gene bank, often in long-term storage as seed.