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Research Project: Innovative Strategies and Methods for Improving the Management, Availability, and Utility of Plant Genetic Resource Collections

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Title: Apple genetic resources: Diversity and conservation

Author
item Volk, Gayle
item BRAMEL, PAULA - Global Crop Diversity Trust

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/20/2021
Publication Date: 8/30/2021
Citation: Volk, G.M., Bramel, P. 2021. Apple genetic resources: diversity and conservation. In: Korban, S.S., editor. The Apple Genome. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. p. 33-45.

Interpretive Summary: N/A

Technical Abstract: Diverse apple cultivars and wild Malus species offer necessary allelic diversity to breeding and research programs. Wild apple species are found in the native landscapes of countries throughout the Northern Hemisphere; however, some of these species are at risk of being lost, particularly if trees are unable to thrive under changing climatic conditions, disease/pathogen outbreaks, and human encroachment. Apple genebanks have been established to ensure that user communities have current and future access to these genetic resources. Herein we describe necessary components of apple genebanks, including collection maintenance forms (trees in orchards, in vitro cultures, reduced temperature medium term storage, and cryopreservation), acquisition of genebank accessions, documentation and data management, distribution of collection materials, and characterization and evaluation (phenotypic evaluations and genetic tools for collection management). We conclude with a summary of international apple genebank holdings and some examples of how collaborations among genebanks would benefit the global community.