RESULTS OF ACTIVITIES TO MAINTAIN LANDRACES AND OTHER MATERIAL IN SOME EUROPEAN COUNTRIES IN-SITU BEFORE 1945 AND WHAT WE MAY LEARN FROM THEM

All three recommendations to maintain landraces in European countries, given in 1927: 1. maintenance by 'traditional' farmers, 2. maintenanc e by school personnel and pupils, and 3. maintenance by small agricult ural institutions, were disregarded. The present outcome: maintenance by genebanks, which often grow landraces and improved cultivars of one crop next to each other, and which often are part of a large agricult ural research institute, was advised against. The above observation ma y be of value to those who at present advocate maintenance of landrace s by 'traditional' farmers in developing countries. It is recommended that landraces should be collected and maintained in genebanks as this will result in a partial loss of the material, whereas on farm mainte nance (in situ conservation) would lead to a complete loss.