Corresponding author: Gayle.Volk@usda.gov

Outline

1. Introduction
2. Best practices for genebanking
3. Best practices for wild species conservation
4. Best practices for seed banking
5. Best practices for clonal plant preservation
6. References
7. Acknowledgments

1. Introduction

Best practices for plant genetic resource genebanking, seed banking, and conservation have been published by multiple organizations. Herein, we provide brief descriptions of and links to a few of these publicly available documents. One additional source of useful information is the Crop Genebank Knowledge Base, (cropgenebank.sgrp.cgiar.org), that is produced by the System-wide Genetic Resources Programme (SGRP) of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).

2. Best practices for genebanking

Genebank Standards for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

The Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture published “Genebank Standards for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture” (FAO, 2014). The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) provides this 181 page document in several languages and provides the following description:

Well-managed genebanks both safeguard genetic diversity and make it available to breeders. The Genebank Standards for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture lay down the procedures for conserving plant genetic resources. These voluntary Standards set the benchmark for current scientific and technical best practices, and support the key international policy instruments for the conservation and use of plant genetic resources.

Practical guide for the application of the Genebank Standards for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

In 2022, the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture released three companion volumes to support their previous publication, “Genebank Standards for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture” (FAO, 2014). Part 1 is “Conservation of orthodox seeds in seed genebanks (FAO, 2022a). Part 2 is “Conservation in field genebanks (FAO, 2022b). Part 3 is “Conservation via in vitro culture (FAO, 2022c).

The action steps of the genebank workflow are presented in a sequential manner and provide guidance on the complex steps and decisions required when operating [a genebank]. The accompanying summary charts for the respective action steps underscore the intended use of this practical guide as a handbook for routine genebank operations for the conservation of [plant genetic resources]. While this practical guide is particularly useful for genebank technicians for their day-to-day activities, it may also be used as a basis for the development of standard operating procedures and quality management systems. Genebank managers will also find it useful for conducting training exercises.

ISBER Best Practices: Recommendations for Repositories

The International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER) published their first “Best Practices” guide in 2005. With regular updates to reflect advancements in the field, “Best Practices: Recommendations for Repositories” is now in its fifth edition and is available in several languages (ISBER, 2023). ISBER states that the manual is intended to support the development of SOPs in the context of the biorepository’s quality management system and provides the following information:

The ISBER Best Practices…presents the most effective practices for the management of biological and environmental specimen collections and repositories. It is the definitive, global guide for managing and operating biobanks. These are either evidence-based or consensus-based practices for collection, long-term storage, retrieval and distribution of specimens. They promote the availability of high-quality biological and environmental specimens for future research.

Collecting plant genetic diversity: Technical guidelines

The Crop Genebank Knowledge Base (CGKB) provides access to each chapter of the 2011 update of the Bioversity International publication “Collecting plant genetic diversity: Technical guidelines. 2011 update” originally from 1995 (Guarino et al., 2011). CGKB provides the following description of what is colloquially referred to as “The Collecting Manual”:

This resource guides new and experienced collectors on how to sample, collect and preserve a wealth of genetic resources – not only crop plants and trees but also wild species, symbiotic bacteria and fungi, pollen and even DNA. It also gives advice on related topics such as ecogeographic surveys, the use of geographic information systems and other data management tools, data recording, taxonomic identification and on the legal issues involved in collecting genetic resources. In addition to synthesizing new knowledge, each chapter provides references–many of them available online–and complementary internet resources.

3. Best practices for wild species conservation

In situ conservation of wild plant species

IPGRI Technical Bulletin No. 11, “In situ conservation of wild plant species a critical global review of good practices” provides information on in situ conservation concepts, methodologies, and global activities (Heywood and Dulloo, 2005). CGKB reports the following:

The aim of this book is to provide readers with a broad understanding of the concept and methodologies of in situ conservation for target plant species. The book is based upon a global survey, undertaken by the first author, of existing guidelines, methodologies, case studies and other relevant literature on the in situ conservation of plant species, as well as current activities in this area by national and international agencies.

4. Best practices for seed banking

Seed Handling in Genebanks

Bioversity International published the “Manual of Seed Handling in Genebanks” along with a self-learning module (Rao et al., 2006). Alliance reports the following of this resource:

The manual discusses and presents some of the common procedures in handling seeds in genebanks. These steps include germplasm acquisition and registration; seed cleaning; seed moisture content determination and drying; seed quality testing which includes viability testing; health testing, and testing for inadvertent introduction of transgenes; seed packaging and storage; germplasm distribution; and the last one is germplasm monitoring and regeneration. At the end of the manual one finds annex on international policies and frameworks influencing access to and exchange of germplasm; serological methods for detecting plant pathogens; glossary; and specialized equipment for genebanks.

Center for Plant Conservation Best Practices

The Center for Plant Conservation (CPC) provides a variety of resources to support the conservation of wild species, including “CPC Best Plant Conservation Practices to Support Species Survival in the Wild” (CPC, 2019). This guide covers conventional seed banking, alternatives to seed banking, genetic guidelines, plant reintroductions, and documentation best practices. Their website states:

If we are to curb plant extinction, there is an urgent need to involve more people in good plant conservation practice. Our updated CPC Best Practice Guidelines reflect updated knowledge about best scientific practices for conserving endangered plants. We wish to overcome barriers for botanical institutions seeking to expand their conservation programs by providing the most up-to-date methodology needed to engage in important plant conservation work. Ultimately, we know that preventing plant extinction will require more institutions making high-quality rare plant conservation collections in support of species’ survival in the wild.

Seeds Toolkit

The “Seeds Toolkit” is a six-part series from the FAO intended to support practitioners across the seed value chain. In particular, “Module 6: Seed Storage” presents fundamental concepts and practical knowledge in the field of seed banking (FAO, 2018). FAO introduces their manual as such:

Seeds are the vehicle for delivering the improvements in a crop to the farmer’s field. They are therefore a critical input in agricultural production. Seeds are also unique in that they must remain alive and healthy when they are used and that they are also the input that farmers can produce by themselves. It is estimated that 25–33% of the world grain crop, including seeds, is lost each year during storage. To avert this obvious drawback to food security and nutrition, this module provides the underlying principles for effective seed storage and the associated practices. The module provides guidance on the preservation of seeds under controlled environmental conditions so as to maximize seed viability for the long periods that may be required from harvesting through processing to planting.

5. Best practices for clonal plant preservation

International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) Handbooks

IPGRI Handbooks for Genebanks No. 7. is “Technical guidelines for the management of field and in vitro germplasm collections” (Reed et al., 2004). This manual covers considerations and procedures for establishing and maintaining field and in vitro collections, and has the following description:

Plant species that are vegetatively propagated, that have long life cycles and/or produce nonorthodox seeds are traditionally maintained in field collections. Maintaining plants in the field is costly and carries high risks of loss; therefore, the strategies and procedures employed to establish and maintain field collections need to be practical, rational and economic, in addition to being scientifically sound. Experience in cost-effective management of field collections lies with individual curators and is not readily available to guide others. Further, there are increasing opportunities for using in vitro methods for the conservation of crops normally conserved in the field, and there is a need to develop strategies and procedures for managing in vitro collections as routine and integral part of the overall conservation strategy of a crop or collection.

Refinement and standardization of storage procedures for clonal crops

The Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) System-wide Genetic Resources Programme (SGRP) funded the Global Public Goods Phase II Project (GPG2). The collaborative activity to refine and standardize storage procedures for clonal crops resulted in a three part publication; part 1 is “Project landscape and general status of clonal crop in vitro conservation technologies” (Benson et al., 2011a). Part 2 is “Status of in vitro conservation technologies for: Andean root and tuber crops, cassava, Musa, potato, sweetpotato and yam” (Benson et al., 2011b). Part 3 is “Multi-crop guidelines for developing in vitro conservation best practices for clonal crops” (Benson et al., 2011c).

[Part I] introduces the GPG2 project within the CGIAR landscape and overviews the status of in vitro plant conservation in the wider conservation community of practice. This part describes the role of risk and quality management for the effective maintenance of in vitro genebanks in the context of research and the development and validation of best practices. [Part II] provides a status update on the mandate clonal crops. As tasked by GPG2, it includes lessons learnt, critical point analyses and the priority research needs of CGIAR’s in vitro genebanks. [Part III] is a compilation of quality and risk management best practices and guidelines from both plant and other bioresources communities. This collective knowledge provided the foundation for developing the GPG2 multi-crop best practice guidelines. They are compiled in two parts. Section I comprises general operational guidelines for quality and risk management in in vitro plant genebanks. Section II provides generic, multi-crop technical guidelines for the medium-term (slow growth) and long-term (cryopreservation) storage of crop germplasm held in In vitro active genebanks (IVAGs) and In vitro base genebanks (IVBGs) respectively.

6. References

Benson EE, Harding K, Debouck D, Dumet D, Escobar R, Mafla G, Panis B, Panta A, Tay D, Van den houwe I, Roux N. 2011a. Refinement and standardization of storage procedures for clonal crops – Global Public Goods Phase 2: Part I. Project landscape and general status of clonal crop in vitro conservation technologies. System-wide Genetic Resources Programme, Rome.

Benson EE, Harding K, Debouck D, Dumet D, Escobar R, Mafla G, Panis B, Panta A, Tay D, Van denhouwe I, Roux N. 2011b. Refinement and standardization of storage procedures for clonal crops – Global Public Goods Phase 2: Part II. Status of in vitro conservation technologies for: Andean root and tuber crops, cassava, Musa, potato, sweetpotato and yam. System-wide
Genetic Resources Programme, Rome.

Benson EE, Harding K, Debouck D, Dumet D, Escobar R, Mafla G, Panis B, Panta A, Tay D, Van denhouwe I, Roux N. 2011. Refinement and standardization of storage procedures for clonal crops – Global Public Goods Phase 2: Part IIIc. Multi-crop guidelines for developing in vitro conservation best practices for clonal crops. System-wide Genetic Resources Programme, Rome.

CPC. 2019. CPC Best Plant Conservation Practices to Support Species Survival in the Wild. Center for Plant Conservation, Escondido, California, USA.

FAO. 2014. Genebank Standards for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Revised edition. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.

FAO. 2018. Seeds toolkit – Module 6: Seed storage. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.

FAO. 2022a. Practical guide for the application of the Genebank Standards for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture: Conservation of orthodox seeds in seed genebanks. Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Rome.

FAO. 2022b. Practical guide for the application of the Genebank Standards for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture: Conservation in field genebanks. Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Rome.

FAO. 2022c. Practical guide for the application of the Genebank Standards for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture: Conservation via in vitro culture. Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Rome.

Guarino L, Ramanatha Rao V, Goldberg E, (editors). 2011. Collecting Plant Genetic Diversity: Technical Guidelines—2011 Update. Bioversity International, Rome. ISBN 978-92-9043-922-6.

Heywood VH, Dulloo ME. 2005. In situ conservation of wild plant species: a critical global review of best practices. The International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) Technical Bulletin 11. IPGRI, Rome.

ISBER. 2023 Best Practices: Recommendations for Repositories, Fifth Edition. International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories, Vancouver, Canada.

Rao NK, Hanson J, Dulloo ME, Ghosh K, Nowell D, Larinde M. 2006. Manual of seed handling in genebanks. Handbooks for Genebanks No. 8. Bioversity International, Rome.

Reed BM, Engelmann F, Dulloo ME, Engels JMM. 2004. Technical guidelines for the management of field and in vitro germplasm collections. The International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) Handbooks for Genebanks No. 7. International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome.

7. Acknowledgments

Citation: Volk, GM. 2024. Online Resources for Genebanking Best Practices. In: Volk GM (Ed.) Fundamentals of Plant Genebanking. Fort Collins, Colorado: Colorado State University. Available from: https://colostate.pressbooks.pub/fundamentalsofplantgenebanking/chapter/resources-for-best-practices/

This chapter expands on information in Links to Some Published Best Practices for Genebanking from the eBook Crop Wild Relatives in Genebanks.

Chapter editor: Katheryn Chen

This project was funded by the USDA-ARS and grant 2020-70003-30930 from the USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture-Higher Education Challenge Grant Program. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this article is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.