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Genetic diversity
of crop plants is a precious resource of worldwide importance. The aim of
preserving these genetic resources in genebanks is to prevent the extinction
of unique genotypes. These genetic resources may then be used,
now and in the future, to combat constraints to agricultural
production that inevitably arise over time. Thus the
conservation of PGR is a crucial task of fundamental and
strategic importance. |
The International Center for Agricultural Research
in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) plays its role in the maintenance of
agro-biodiversity through its genetic resource unit which not only
maintains a genebank but also undertakes various research and
capacity building activities in the Central Asian, Caucus, West
Asia and North African regions (CWANA).
The outputs and activities of the GRU
can be summarized below:
Outputs
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Expanded
ex situ collections of the genetic resources to be utilized in crop
improvement programs of ICARDA and NARS
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Germplasm characterization and preliminary evaluation for biotic and
abiotic stresses and morphological and agronomic traits using
international descriptors, and genetic diversity analysis and assessment
of the potential of conserved material for crop enhancement
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Special
purpose collections with multiplied seed for distribution
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Wheat
germplasm with new genes from wild relatives
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Conservation and sustainable use of dry land agrobiodiversity in pilot
sites in Jordan, Lebanon, Palestinian Authority and Syria
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Strengthened capacity of national and regional genetic resources
institutes
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Documentation of ICARDA plant genetic resources collections available to
users worldwide
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Healthy seed introduced to and distributed from ICARDA
Activities Areas:
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Collection missions
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Germplasm acquisition
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Viability monitoring
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Germplasm characterization
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Diversity studies
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Development of core
collections
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Wheat pre-breeding
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GEF/UNDP project
coordination
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Training NARS staff
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Technical assistance
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Germplasm documentation
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Seed
health inspection
You
can view
GRUs Medium Term Plan for details of specific goals and
activities
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