Author
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Hummer, Kim |
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Submitted to: Acta Horticulturae
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 10/10/2006 Publication Date: 1/20/2007 Citation: Hummer, K.E. 2007. Development of a Global Conservation Strategy for Strawberries. Acta Horticulturae. 760:49-54. Interpretive Summary: The strawberry, a horticultural crop of global economic significance, is listed in the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Annex 1. In 2005, about 3.6 million MT of strawberries were produced in 75 countries. Strawberry relatives include about about 26 species. The centers of diversity for these species are located in Eurasia and North and South America. Landraces have been lost though human encroachment, natural disasters, and displacement by commercial cultivars. Geneticists have bred new strawberry cultivars for more than 300 years but have use only limited amounts of wild relatives. A global conservation strategy is in preparation to reduce the erosion of diversity in wild genetic resources and to protect the availability and accessibility of the wild and cultivated gene pools. An international team of strawberry genebank managers, geneticists and researchers is defining protocols to specify protocols for sustainable and secure conservation of strawberries in perpetuity. A survey of international genebanks was performed to identify the present status of genebank activities. Technical guidelines for the international safe movement of strawberry plants, without increasing strawberry diseases, was reviewed and updated. Eligibility criteria for genebanks to be recognized as part of the global conservation system will be established. A unified approach for the global conservation of strawberries will be suggested. Technical Abstract: The strawberry, Fragaria L., a horticultural crop of global economic significance, is listed in the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Annex 1. In 2005, about 3.6 million MT of strawberries were produced in 75 countries. Fragaria, which includes about 26 species, has centers of diversity located in Eurasia and North and South America. The primary cultivated gene pool is octoploid. Landraces have been lost though human encroachment, natural disasters, and displacement by commercial cultivars. Geneticists have bred new strawberry cultivars for more than 300 years but the primary cultivated gene pool is restricted. A global conservation strategy is in preparation to reduce the erosion of diversity in wild genetic resources and to protect the availability and accessibility of the wild and cultivated gene pools. An international team of strawberry genebank managers, geneticists and researchers is defining protocols to specify protocols for sustainable and secure conservation of strawberries in perpetuity. A survey of international genebanks was performed to identify the present status of genebank activities. Technical guidelines for the safe movement of Fragaria germplasm were reviewed and updated. Eligibility criteria for genebanks to be recognized as part of the global conservation system will be established. A unified approach for the global conservation of Fragaria will be suggested. |
