Skip to main content
ARS Home » Northeast Area » Geneva, New York » Plant Genetic Resources Unit (PGRU) » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #159254
Title: XXVI INTERNATIONAL HORTICULTURAL CONGRESS: PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES, THE FABRIC OF HORTICULTURE'S FUTURE.

Author
item Forsline, Philip
item FIDEGHELLI, C - INSTITUTO SPERIMENTALE PE
item KNUEPFFER, H - INSTITUTE PLANT GENETICS
item Meerow, Alan
item NIENHUIS, JAMES - UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
item Stoner, Allan
item THORN, EVA - THE NORDIC GENEBANK
item TOMBOLATO, A - INSTITUTO AGRONOMICO IAC
item WILLIAMS, D - IPGRI REGIONAL OFFICE

Submitted to: International Horticultural Congress
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2003
Publication Date: 6/1/2003
Citation: FOorsline, P.L., Fideghelli, C., Knuepffer, H., Meerow, A.W., Nienhuis, J., Stoner, A.K., Thorn, E., Tombolato, A.F., Williams, D. XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Plant Genetic Resources, The Fabric of Horticulture's Future. International Horticultural Congress. 2003. Acta Horticulture. 623-355.

Interpretive Summary: The papers contained in this volume of Acta Horticulturae report the proceedings of a symposium on 'Plant Genetic Resources: The Fabric of Horticulture's Future'. Keynote speakers and authors of selected contributed oral and poster presentations were given the opportunity to submit a manuscript for publication. These manuscripts were reviewed by the symposium editors and other referees. Only those papers judged suitable for publication following the authors consideration of reviewer suggestions appear in this volume of Acta Horticulturae. The ISHS acknowledges and appreciates the contribution of all editors and reviewers. They have made a significant contribution to assuring the quality of this publication.

Technical Abstract: The UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) along with the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture have defined and engaged International Issues concerning plant genetic resources. FAO protocols and agreements have defined the following principles that: Nations have sovereign rights over plant genetic resources in their territories Plant genetic resources should be available for the benefit of all humanity, on mutually agreed terms, for plant breeding and scientific purposes. Plant genetic resources, and the information, technology and funds necessary to conserve and utilize them, are complimentary. All nations are potential donors and users of plant genetic resources, information, technology and funds The best way to guarantee the maintenance of plant genetic resources is to ensure their effective, sustainable and beneficial utilization, in all countries Over the millennia, farmers have domesticated, conserved, improved and distributed plant genetic resources, and continue to do so today Advanced technologies and local rural technologies are important and complementary for the conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources; and In situ and ex situ conservation are complementary strategies for maintaining genetic diversity The symposium 'Plant Genetic Resources: The Fabric of Horticulture's Future', held as part of the 26th International Horticultural Congress, provided the opportunity to discuss the status of research activity, conservation and utilization of the world's horticultural genetic resources. Six invited lectures, including a keynote, introduced a series of themes and sub-themes: International policy and agreements, in situ conservation, genomics and bioinformatics, management and conservation strategies, evaluation and utilization. A total of 59 papers were presented. The symposium placed particular emphasis on three areas: in situ conservation, genomics and bioinformatics, and cryopreservation. Long considered of secondary importance to ex situ protocols, in situ conservation methods are receiving increasing attention as logical and effective strategies for long term preservation of resources. Genomics and bioinformatics are essential tools to understand and exploit variation of genes, genomes and genepools while cryopreservation with its minimal requirements of space and maintenance continues to gain importance as a means of long term storage.