In contrast to in situ conservation Ex situ conservation involves conservation of PGR outside the area in which they have evolved. The methods include conservation of seed in cold stores, of whole plants in field genebanks, of tissue or cells in in vitro and liquid nitrogen, of pollen etc. All these methods require specialised facilities and their proper maintenance over long periods of time to effectively conserve their genetic diversity. CBD (Article 6) highlights the complementarity of ex situ and in situ approaches to conservation and stipulates that the contracting parties should adopt measures for the ex situ conservation of components of biodiversity. This was further emphasized in the COP4 recommendations. The GPA outlines various actions required for sustaining ex situ collections, including germplasm regeneration, characterisation and evaluation activities and promoting access to conserved material under priority activities 5-14.
Since the concern regarding eroding PGR was voiced strongly in early 1960s, a large number of genebanks (seed, field and in vitro) have come into existence. To establish ex situ collections, collecting missions are undertaken to collect cultivated, semidomesticated and wild relatives and sometimes material is introduced from other countries. Depending the storability of material conserved, the accessions conserved in seed genebanks, field genebanks, in vitro collections or cryopreservation facilities. Characterisation and evaluation of germplasm is the key for proper utilization of conserved material. Proper documentation of characterisation and evaluation data and easy access to it are necessary for effective access of the material conserved. Germplasm multiplication and regeneration are a part of ex situ seed conservation. A computerised genebank monitoring and management system, with good inventorying capability, will greatly enhance the effectiveness of genebanks.
More information:
The International Network of Ex Situ Collections under the auspices of FAO
System-wide Information Network for Genetic Resources (SINGER)
Vegetable Gene Bank at Horticulture Research International
Information on Plant Germplasm Banks and Genetic Stock Centers as Listed by AgNIC Plant Science
Guarino, L., Ramanatha Rao, V. and Reid, R. (eds.), 1995. Germplasm Collecting Manual. Wallingford, London, CABI, in Collaboration with IPGRI, in association with IUCN, FAO and UNEP.
Breese, E.L. 1989. Regeneration and Multiplication of Germplasm Resources in Seed Genebanks: The Scientific Background. IBPGR, Rome Italy. 69 p.
Brown, A.H.D., Brubaker, C.L. and Grace, J.P. 1996. The regeneration of germplasm samples: wild versus cultivated plant species. Crop Science.
Brown, A.H.D., Marshal, D.R., Frankel, O.H. and Williams, J.T. 1989. The Use of Plant Genetic Resources. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
Riley, K., Ramanatha Rao, V., Zhou, M.D. and Quek, P. 1996. Characterization and evaluation of plant genetic resources- present status and future challenges. Pp. 7-30 in., Plant Genetic Resources: Characterization and Evaluation - New Approaches for Improved Use of Plant Genetic Resources. The proceedings of the Fourth Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan (MAFF) International Workshop on Genetic Resources, 22-24 October 1996, NIAR, Tsukuba, Japan. MAFF, Japan.
Sackville Hamilton, N.R. and Chorlton, K.H. 1997. Regeneration of accessions in seed collections: a decision guide. Handbook for Genebanks No. 5. International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome, Italy.
FAO. 1998. The state of the ex situ conservation. Pp. 83-136 in The state of the world’s plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome, Italy.
กก