Safekeeping crop diversity at the National Germplasm Repository [Terminal Report]

The quality and viability of the seed collections of the genebank was threatened by the flood waters and mud that entered the cold storage during the Milenyo typhoon. This required the regeneration of the seed collection s these serve as the source of germplasm materials for crop improvement programs in the Institute and other researchers. For this project soybean, peanut, cowpea, mungbean, yardlong bean, corn (traditional or farmers' varieties), sorghum, tomato, eggplant and pepper were initially regenerated. The selected annual crops were planted for two seasons in the experimental fields of IPB. Appropriate cultural management practices and regeneration protocols were followed. A total of 1,431 accessions were regenerated for the 10 crops. The concern on the deterioration of seed viability was confirmed when poor germination was observed on most of the crops except for mungbean, corn and sorghum. The solanaceous crops group was the most affected. The project was able to regenerate 6.54% of the total seed germplasm collection in the national repository. Similarly, the field genebank of fruits and root crops was damaged during typhoon Milenyo. This project was therefore implemented to rejuvenate, rehabilitate and re-establish the germplasm to ensure sustainable conservation of the said germplasm. In vitro conservation of the asexually propagated germplasm provided a complementary strategy to ensure long-term conservation. The field genebank in Pasong Kipot was cleared and moved, and fallen and dead branches of trees were removed. Rejuvenation by heavy pruning and re-establishment were done on priority fruit crops collection of mango, chico, jackfruit, citrus, Syzygium spp., and 100 species of botanical collections. In general, the germplasm collection of the fruit and nut species increased by 77% (985 accessions) as a result of rejuvenation and re-establishment project in the nursery as well as field genebank surpassing the target of 557 accessions. Musa balbisiana (83 accessions) and edible Musa (62 accessions) were conserved in vitro as well as accessions of sweetpotato (172), taro (42) and yam (55). The root crops germplasm collection was similarly re-established in the field. A continuous effort to do regeneration, rejuvenation and re-establishment must be sustained not only for the 100 seed crops, selected fruit species and root crops but also other crops conserved at NPGRL [National Plant Genetic Resources Laboratory].