THE VALUE OF THE UNITED-KINGDOM STATUTORY SEED COLLECTIONS FROM A GENETIC RESOURCE PERSPECTIVE

Statutory seed collections, which are maintained for the purposes of v ariety registration and Plant Breeders' Rights tests, contain a wide r ange of cultivated plant variation. As registration requires the compi lation of internationally standardised descriptions, there is extensiv e information associated with these seed collections. Image analysis a nd molecular technologies will enhance the content of available inform ation. Close liaison with genetic resource curators has encouraged con servation of commercially obsolete varieties and safely duplication of seed. Statutory collections and their associated data are a unique na tional asset and registration authorities collaborate with genebanks, research institutes and breeders to encourage the utilisation of this resource.