Plant Genetic Resources of Legumes in the Mediterranean

Plant Genetic Resources of Legumes in the Mediterranean PDF Author: Nigel Maxted
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9401598231
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 380

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Book Description
Genetic erosion, that is, the loss of native plant and genetic diversity has been exponential from the Mediterranean Basin through the Twentieth century. This careless eradication of species and genetic diversity as a result of human activities from a 'hot-spot' of diversity threatens sustainable agriculture and food security for the temperate regions of the world. Since the early 1900s there has been a largely ad hoc movement to halt the loss of plant diversity and enhance its utilisation. The Convention on Biological Diversity and Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources, both highlight the need to improve conservation methodologies and enhance utilisation techniques. It has been argued that the most important component of biodiversity is the genetic diversity of crop and forage species used to feed humans and livestock. These cultivated and related wild species provides the raw material for further selection and improvement. Leguminosae species are of major economic importance (peas, chickpeas, lentils and faba beans, as well as numerous forage species) and provide a particularly rich source of protein for human and animal foods. Their distribution is concentrated in the Mediterranean region and therefore the improvement of their conservation and use in the region is critical. This text is designed to help ensure an adequate breadth of legume diversity is conserved and to help maximise the use of that conserved diversity. The subjects of conservation and use of legume diversity, the Mediterranean ecosystem and taxonomy of legumes are introduced. Generic reviews of the taxonomy, centre of diversity, ecogeographic distribution, genetic diversity distribution, conservation status, conservation gaps and future research needs are provided, along with a discussion of the importance of rhizobia to the maintenance of legume diversity. Current ex situ and in situ conservation activities as well current legume uses are reviewed. In conclusion future priorities for ex situ and in situ plant genetic conservation and use of Mediterranean legumes are highlighted. All contributors look forward rather than simply reviewing past and current activities and therefore it is hoped that the identification of genetic erosion, location of taxonomic and genetic diversity and promotion of more efficient utilisation of conserved material will be enhanced.

Plant Genetic Resources of Legumes in the Mediterranean

Plant Genetic Resources of Legumes in the Mediterranean PDF Author: Nigel Maxted
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9401598231
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 380

Get Book

Book Description
Genetic erosion, that is, the loss of native plant and genetic diversity has been exponential from the Mediterranean Basin through the Twentieth century. This careless eradication of species and genetic diversity as a result of human activities from a 'hot-spot' of diversity threatens sustainable agriculture and food security for the temperate regions of the world. Since the early 1900s there has been a largely ad hoc movement to halt the loss of plant diversity and enhance its utilisation. The Convention on Biological Diversity and Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources, both highlight the need to improve conservation methodologies and enhance utilisation techniques. It has been argued that the most important component of biodiversity is the genetic diversity of crop and forage species used to feed humans and livestock. These cultivated and related wild species provides the raw material for further selection and improvement. Leguminosae species are of major economic importance (peas, chickpeas, lentils and faba beans, as well as numerous forage species) and provide a particularly rich source of protein for human and animal foods. Their distribution is concentrated in the Mediterranean region and therefore the improvement of their conservation and use in the region is critical. This text is designed to help ensure an adequate breadth of legume diversity is conserved and to help maximise the use of that conserved diversity. The subjects of conservation and use of legume diversity, the Mediterranean ecosystem and taxonomy of legumes are introduced. Generic reviews of the taxonomy, centre of diversity, ecogeographic distribution, genetic diversity distribution, conservation status, conservation gaps and future research needs are provided, along with a discussion of the importance of rhizobia to the maintenance of legume diversity. Current ex situ and in situ conservation activities as well current legume uses are reviewed. In conclusion future priorities for ex situ and in situ plant genetic conservation and use of Mediterranean legumes are highlighted. All contributors look forward rather than simply reviewing past and current activities and therefore it is hoped that the identification of genetic erosion, location of taxonomic and genetic diversity and promotion of more efficient utilisation of conserved material will be enhanced.

Genetic Resources of Mediterranean Pasture and Forage Legumes

Genetic Resources of Mediterranean Pasture and Forage Legumes PDF Author: Sarita Bennett
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9780792355229
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 252

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Book Description
Genetic Resources of Mediterranean Pasture and Forage Legumes is a comprehensive review of grassland improvement in Mediterranean areas using legume species. The book includes a detailed account of the processes involved in understanding the ecology of legumes and their collection in the Mediterranean, through to their preliminary evaluation and storage at various Genetic Resource Centres. A generic conspectus and key to the forage legumes of the Mediterranean basin is also included. These proceedings are truly international with examples on the collection and use of Mediterranean genetic resources being illustrated by Genetic Resource Centres in Australia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Syria, Turkey and Tunisia. Current important issues such as the sustainability of Mediterranean grasslands, the risk of genetic erosion and the principles of population genetics employed during a collecting mission are discussed. The book will be of value to researchers working in the fields of grassland and rangeland improvement, Mediterranean farming systems, genetic resources, and pasture and forage ecology.

Genetic Resources and Their Exploitation — Chickpeas, Faba beans and Lentils

Genetic Resources and Their Exploitation — Chickpeas, Faba beans and Lentils PDF Author: J.R. Witcombe
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9400961316
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 264

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Book Description
Chickpeas, faba beans and lentils are important pulse crops in the Mediterranean regi on and Mi ddl e East, where thei r hi gh protei n seed nutritionally complement cereal grain in the human diet. The by-products of these crops serve as a valuable feed for animals. Thanks to their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, the inclusion of these crops in the cropping system helps in the maintenance of the productivity of the soil and reduces the dependence of the farmer on fertilizer nitrogen to realise good yields. Being the site of original domestication of these legumes, the Fertile Crescent is bel ieved to possess their vast genetic diversity. In order to prevent the erosion of this genetic di'/ersity and to preserve it for posterity, it is necessary that a major effort is made for its expeditious collection, evaluation, documentation and safe storage. The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) being located in the Fertile Crescent has, within its mandate, the responsibility to act as a world centre for the work on the genetic resources of kabuli chickpeas, faba beans and lentils. The International Board of Plant Genetic Resources (IBPGR) has been strongly supporting ICARDA in this important activity.

Genetic and Genomic Resources of Grain Legume Improvement

Genetic and Genomic Resources of Grain Legume Improvement PDF Author: Mohar Singh
Publisher: Elsevier Inc. Chapters
ISBN: 0128064358
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 322

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Book Description
Grain legumes mainly consisting of common bean, pea, chickpea, faba bean, cowpea, lentil, pigeon pea, peanut, Asian Vigna species, grass pea and horsegram are under cultivation in a considerable area worldwide. With their higher protein content and symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria in root nodules enabling them to fix their own nitrogen, reducing the fertilizer use in agriculture has become very important for the production systems. For most of these important grain legumes, a large number of germplasm accessions were characterized and evaluated for various agro-morphological traits, including biotic, abiotic and quality parameters. Core and mini-core collections have also been developed for the majority of grain legumes; they were further evaluated for different parameters. From these genetic resources, potential donors of desirable traits have been selected after evaluation and characterization and have been utilized in the genetic improvement of cultivars. Current available genomic resources and technologies can facilitate allele mining for novel traits of interest and incorporation from wild relatives into elite domestic genetic backgrounds.

Genetic Resources, Chromosome Engineering, and Crop Improvement

Genetic Resources, Chromosome Engineering, and Crop Improvement PDF Author: Ram J. Singh
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1135509689
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 689

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Book Description
The first book in this new series discusses grain legumes, which rank only second to cereals in supplying calories and protein to the world's population. With each chapter written by an internationally renowned scientist, the book reviews the role of alien germplasm for the domestication of each major legume crop. Discussion for each crop covers or

Legume Genetic Resources for Semi-arid Temperate Environments

Legume Genetic Resources for Semi-arid Temperate Environments PDF Author: Alan Smith
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Arid regions plants
Languages : en
Pages : 526

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Book Description


African Perspectives on Genetic Resources

African Perspectives on Genetic Resources PDF Author: Kent Nnadozie
Publisher: Environmental Law Institute
ISBN: 9781585760688
Category : Biodiversity
Languages : en
Pages : 366

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Book Description


Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter

Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Crops
Languages : en
Pages : 156

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Book Description


Genetic and Genomic Resources of Grain Legume Improvement

Genetic and Genomic Resources of Grain Legume Improvement PDF Author: Shiv Kumar
Publisher: Elsevier Inc. Chapters
ISBN: 0128064455
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 322

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Book Description
Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) is an important cool-season legume species with wide genetic diversity spread across the continents. With the climate change scenario it has emerged as a viable crop option for fragile agro-ecosystems, where successful cultivation of major crop species is apparently not difficult. However, grass pea seeds are known to have a neurotoxin known as β-N-oxalyl-l-α, β-diaminopropionic acid (β-ODAP). Its overconsumption as a staple food in an unbalanced diet for an extended period of 3–4 months can cause spastic paraparesis of the legs in human beings. Therefore, β-ODAP needs to be reduced through genetic means to a safe level for human consumption. Unfortunately, a paucity of efforts towards development of genetic and genomic resources for this species has hampered the progress in breeding low ODAP varieties in the past. Some progress has been made in recent years for collection, conservation, characterization, evaluation and utilization of Lathyrus genetic resources at the national and international levels, resulting in large ex situ collections in various gene banks of the world. These resources need to be systematically characterized and evaluated for genetic improvement through conventional and contemporary approaches. In spite of a large number of wild relatives with useful traits, no significant efforts have been made for alien gene transfer in grass pea. This chapter reviews the present status of genetic and genomic resources of Lathyrus and their use in current breeding programmes.

The Second Report on the State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

The Second Report on the State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture PDF Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
ISBN: 9251065349
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 399

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Book Description
Plant genetic resources provide a basis for food security, livelihood support and economic development as a major component of biodiversity. The Second Report on the State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture demonstrates the central role plant genetic diversity continues to play in shaping agriculture growth in the face of climate change and other environmental challenges. It is based on information gathered from Country Reports, regional syntheses, thematic studie s and scientific literature, documenting the major achievements made in this sector during the past decade and identifying the critical gaps and needs that should urgently be addressed. The Report provides the decision-makers with a technical basis for updating the Global Plan of Action on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. It also aims to attract the attention of the global community to set priorities for the effective management of plant genet ic resources for the future. Purchase a print copy.