Global Strategy for the Ex Situ Conservation of Potato - Global Crop ...

Lechnovich has been used, describing over 200 wild potato species. Spooner and
Hijmans (2001), Hijmans et al. (2002), and Spooner et al. (2005) listed 199 different wild
potato species (Solanum section Petota and three out group relatives of the section
Etuberosum).
2. Native cultivars, including local potato cultivars occurring in the centre of diversity. The
two taxonomic schools describe eight (Hawkes, 1990) and 12 species (Russian
taxonomists (Bukasov, 1971 and Lechnovich, 1971) respectively, with ploidy levels at 2x,
3x, 4x, and 5x (x=12). Alternatively, Spooner and Hijmans (2001) distinguish seven
species of native cultivars.
3. Modern cultivars of the common potato (Solanum tuberosum subsp. tuberosum), the
most cultivated potato subspecies in the world. This genepool includes both old and new
varieties.
4. Other germplasm or research material; all types of genetic stocks e.g. inter-specific
hybrids, breeding clones, genetically enhanced stocks, etc.
5.2 Data collecting
The assessment of the state of the art of potato conservation at the global level is based on
the analysis of 23 responses to a questionnaire. Thirty-five copies of the questionnaire were
mailed to the same number of contacts (potato collection curators) in 30 different countries.
Twenty-three contacts in 22 countries returned a completed questionnaire (66 %), which van
be considered a high response. Approximately 90% of the global potato genetic resources
holdings, including those of the six largest potato genebanks, was thus included in the
assessment. Besides general questions, questions related to the collection size and type of
material maintained, collection management procedures, conservation practices, evaluation
and use of the germplasm, and policies with regard to access conditions were included. Data
obtained from the 23 completed questionnaires have been compiled in 13 tables (Annex 4).
Information obtained from the questionnaire was complemented by discussions wit
respondents during the Lima workshop and information obtained from potato networks and
databases, as well as from the scientific literature.
5.3 An analysis of major collections
The 23 analysed potato collections contain a total of nearly 59,000 accessions (Table 1).
Wild species form the largest group of accessions, although it is known that there is a high
level of duplication in this group (see Table 2, Annex 5). Germplasm of the native cultivars
from the centre of diversity in Latin America forms a second major category. This germplasm
is largely vegetatively conserved in field genebanks and in vitro collections, whereas in some
collections held in regions outside Latin America these native cultivars are maintained in the
form of true seed.
Detailed information on the composition and size of the 23 collections is presented in Table 2
(Annex 4).
10