Ex situ plant genetic resources conservation activities in the Netherl
ands are centralized in the Centre for Genetic Resources, The Netherla
nds (CGN), part of the CPRO-DLO. This Centre contributes to an interna
tional network of genebanks through its germplasm collections and its
methodological research. The GCN collections were largely obtained fro
m breeding institutes in Wageningen and additional collection missions
. CGN concentrates its activities on a number of base collections, i.e
., Lactuca, Brassica oleracea, Beta, Allium and wild and primitive tub
er-bearing Solanum species. The material is stored as seeds under opti
mal conditions. The collections are regenerated, characterized, docume
nted and distributed as a routine activity. The methodological researc
h concentrates on the composition and availability of germplasm collec
tions. Issues that were or are studied include duplication in genebank
s, core collections, marker technology for genebanks, central crop dat
abases, use of Internet for genebanks, and on-farm management of plant
genetic resources.