CONSERVATION OF PLANT GENETIC-RESOURCES IN THE NETHERLANDS

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.