NIAS Genebank System
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Diverse genetic resources are used to improve agricultural products and conserving genetic resources is a vital component of global environmental protection. These days species rich tropical forests are being cut at an alarming rate, deserts are expanding and lakes are dying. Consequently the urgency to protect global genetic resources is greater than ever before. The Japanese government has ratified the "Convention on Biological Diversity", which is an international agreement to share the benefits and sustainable use of global genetic resources. Japan is working with other countries to strengthen the international network for conservation of genetic resources.
The NIAS genebank system involves the complete range of activities for the conservation of genetic resources. This includes both domestic and foreign exploration, seed increase, characterization, evaluation, preservation, rejuvenation and documentation. An important component of the NIAS genebank system is the genetic resources database system which is used by agricultural scientists in the public and private sectors nationwide and the information it contains is available to scientists worldwide. NIAS Genetic resources scientists engaged in this system are actively collaborating with international and national research institutes worldwide.
Prior to 1985 genetic resources work was independently conducted by different institutes across Japan. In 1985 an integrated system for the whole country was developed. The National Institutes of Agrobiological Resources(NIAR) became the central coordinating institute for plant, animal and microorganism genetic resources in Japan. The central national genebank was constructed at NIAR. NIAR has a base and active collection and different institutes across Japan act as sub-banks with active collections for crops adapted to their location. In 1993 a DNA bank was initiated to preserve molecular materials and information.
The NIAR was reorganized into the National Institute of Agrobiological sciences (NIAS) in 2001.
Exploration activities seek broad genetic diversity in the farmers field and storage areas. The rapid spread of improved varieties has resulted in the loss of genetic diversity and increased genetic uniformity. Industrialization and urbanization has seriously damaged the natural environment. One urgent objective of the NIAS genebank project is to collect and preserve genetic resources before they disappear. The NIAS genebank system has, annually, organised domestic and overseas missions to collect endangered genetic resources. In addition, collections preserved in genebanks in other countries are introduced into Japan.
Collaborative collecting in Pakistan for crop germplasm
In order to use germplasm stored in the genebank, it is necessary to have as much information as possible available to scientists. The center bank and sub-banks collaborate to characterise and evaluate their germplasm collections systematically. Germplasm descriptors for plant consists of such characters as morphology. tolerance to pests and grain quality. Information gathered is entered into the evaluation database, a component of the Genebank Database Management System (DBMS). The center bank and sub-banks are connected to the DBMS through Information Network (MAFFIN).
During the growing season they are characterised
Genetic Resources, such as seeds and vegetative parts of plants, animal germ cells and microorganisms, must be preserved safely and kept in good condition for distribution. The seed sample of a collection is separated into two packets. One is for long term storage (base collection) and the other for distribution (active collection). They are preserved separately under suitable conditions. Catalogs of Genetic Resources for Distribution (Plants and Microorganisms) have been published. The available collections for distribution are provided on request to research institutes and the public.
Approximately 100,000 accessions are available for distribution are preserved in Seed Storage Room of the Genebank. A computerized system is used to handle the information on stored germplasm stocks.
