Collection of wild rice (Oryza L.) in east and southern Africa in response to genetic erosion
2005
Kiambi, D.K. (International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Nairobi (Kenya). Regional Office for Sub-Saharan Africa) | Ford-Lloyd, B.V. | Jackson, M.T. | Guarino, L. | Maxted, N. | Newbury, H.J.
Wild Oryza species are an important source of traits that are widely used in the improvement of cultivated rice. There are five wild rice species in east and southern Africa: Oryza barthii, O. brachyantha, O. eichingeri, O. punctata and O. longistaminata. Germplasm collection missions to harness the diversity of wild rice in the region were organized in collaboration with national plant genetic resources programmes because it was recognized that this constituent of the Oryza gene pool in world base collections had low representation. During the 17 collecting missions reported in this paper, 211 populations of the 5 species were sampled throughout the target region. The largest number of populations sampled was for O. longistaminata, which was also the most widespread species in the region. The area covered by the populations was highly variable, ranging from 0.5 to 100 000 m2. The wild species are currently faced with genetic erosion caused by grazing and expansion of agricultural activities. The magnitude of threats to the wild rice populations varies between countries, as well as within and among species. This paper reports the genetic erosion indicators in areas where the wild rice germplasm was collected
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