Schriften zu Genetischen Ressourcen - Genres

Studies of genetic integrity in genebank collections
Studies of genetic integrity in genebank collections 1
S. CHEBOTAR 2,3 , M.S. RÖDER 2 , V. KORZUN 2,4 , M. GRAU 2 and A. BÖRNER 2
In the Gatersleben genebank about 100,000 accessions are maintained including cereals,
legumes, vegetables, oil and fibre plants, medicinal herbs, spice plants, forages and
tubers (potatoes). Depending on the storage conditions and the frequency of providing
genebank material to users, regeneration becomes necessary. For that different procedures
have to be applied depending on the pollination systems of the particular crops.
Especially cross-pollinating species need extended isolation efforts in order to maintain
the genetic integrity of the germplasm accessions. However, a contamination by foreign
pollen or incorrect handling during multiplication may affect the genetic identity of selfpollinating
species as well.
In order to get some information about the integrity of germplasm maintained in the
Gatersleben collection, randomly selected accessions of one self-pollinating (Triticum
aestivum L.) and one cross-pollinating species (Secale cereale L.) were investigated
by employing molecular markers. The investigation became possible, because in IPK
Gatersleben, beside the seeds from the most recent regeneration stored in the cold
store, reference (herbarium) collections are maintained. From each cereal accession,
samples of grains and complete spikes are deposited as vouchers when they are grown
initially. Although the samples are stored at room temperature and, therefore, may have
lost their germinability, it is still possible to extract DNA for comparative studies.
Self-pollinating species
Eight wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) accessions differing in their frequency of multiplication
were randomly selected out of the Gatersleben genebank wheat collection. The frequencies
of multiplication varied between 5 and 24. Five grains of each accession derived
from the first and last regeneration cycle were pooled for DNA extraction. Nine
1 This presentation is a summary of two extended papers published (Theor. Appl. Genet. 100 (2000) 494-
497) and in preparation for the journal Theoretical and Applied Genetics.
2 Institut für Pflanzengenetik und Kulturpflanzenforschung (IPK)
Corrensstraße 3
D-06466 Gatersleben, Germany
3 present address: South Plant Biotechnology Centre, Ukrainian Agrarian Academy of Sciences, Ovidio-
polskaya dor. 3, 65036 Odessa, Ukraine
4 present address: Lochow-Petkus GmbH, PF 1197, D-29296 Bergen, Germany
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