Are seeds applicable as a back-up of clonally maintained germplasm?PANEL DISCUSSIONKim, 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.

Are (when) seeds applicable as a back-up of clonally maintained germplasm?

1. Importance of clonal-back upWhy 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 clonesWhy clonally maintained accessions should

be backed-up as vegetative propagules Specific qualities of the genotype

ONLY VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION WILL DO

Importance of clonesONLY VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION WILL DO

Importance of clonesONLY VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION WILL DO

Eat your pigments!

Clones or speciesSpecies diversityRepresentative of the species

SEEDPears from Armenia

Clones or SpeciesSpecies diversityRepresentative of the species

SEED

Fragaria iinumae, Hokkaido

Clones or speciesSpecies diversityRepresentative 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-incompatibilityInbreeding depression

What is the conservation target?

GenesGenotypesLineages

As an option what are the trade offs involved?

Cost of supporting clonal propagationRisk of lossImmediate utility vs long term backup

What is the accession history?

Sample contextPopulation structure

2 Clones from aRecombining 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