Genebank network of tropical and subtropical fruits in Brazil.
Ferreira F. R.
Author Affiliation: Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (CENARGEN), Brasilia, DF, Brazil.
Crop Breeding and Applied Biotechnology 2 : 609-612
Abstract : Fruit crops are an important industry in Brazil, which is one of the biggest fruit producers in the world. Brazil is also one of the most important centres of genetic diversity of several important tropical fruits. The Brazilian plant genetic resources conservation model is composed by Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (National Genetic Resources and Biotechnology Research Center; CENARGEN), in Brasilia, Distrito Federal, and by a network of gene banks spread all over the country in Research Units, Universities and State Institutions. CENARGEN is one of the 39 Research Units of the Brazilian Agriculture Research Corporation (EMBRAPA). At EMBRAPA the conservation of tropical and subtropical fruit genetic resources is formed by 24 gene banks. Along with several other germplasm collections, this system has approximately 300 species and more than 10?000 accessions under conservation, including duplications. All materials are kept in the field, except for a small collection of banana and pineapple germplasm which is maintained in vitro. In this paper, the number of accessions per species, and the location where the collections are kept is presented. Brazil has a strong collecting programme for native species including pineapples, cashews and passion fruits. For exotic species, such as bananas, mangoes and citrus, there is a good exchange programme. Morphological and molecular characterization, and evaluation of the most important tropical and subtropical fruit germplasm is in progress in the active gene banks and at EMBRAPA Genetic Resources and Biotechnology. The germplasm documentation uses the updated national information system SIBRARGEN. Tropical and subtropical fruit genetic resources, such as pineapples, bananas, citrus, mangoes, and cashews are actively being used in breeding programmes and correlated research.