Integration of Conservation Strategies of Plant Genetic ... - Genres
Integration of Conservation Strategies of Plant Genetic ... - Genres Integration of Conservation Strategies of Plant Genetic ... - Genres
What distinctions can one usefully draw? In my view, the most useful characteristics concern the time scale over which genetic resources are conserved. For the formal sector, exemplified by gene banks, long-term storage is the goal. In that the plant material is usually not growing (accepting exceptions such as clonal orchards and in-vitro collections), this is the closest one comes in crop plants to ex-situ conservation. The informal sector, by contrast, is generally concerned with relatively short-term conservation, and more with ensuring that genetic material remains available for use by growers. In that the plants spend most of their time in their natural, cultivated habitat, this is the crop plant equivalent of in-situ conservation. But, as I say, the distinction is sterile, and I would hope that it will soon be replaced by a distinction between long-term and short-term conservation, while accepting that the notion of short-term conservation will take some getting used to. HDRA Heritage Seed Programme I come now to examine in more detail the work of one element of the informal sector. The Henry Doubleday Research Association is dedicated to researching, demonstrating and promoting environmentally friendly growing techniques. It claims to be Europe's largest organic organisation, with some 20,000 members. The Department of Genetic Resources is the smallest of HDRA's five departments, but has a historic link with HDRA's founder, Lawrence Hills. He campaigned vociferously for the conservation of plant genetic resources starting in the 1960s, and later was instrumental in gaining support for a National Vegetable Seed Bank at Wellesbourne. At the same time, Lawrence Hills established a Seed Library for members of the HDRA, a library that I now manage. The Seed Library contains more than 500 accessions from about 50 crops; it is hard to be more accurate because some of the accessions I discovered when I took over the Seed Library have not yet proved themselves to be viable. We have three main sources for our accessions. The minority come from seed companies who were the registered maintainers of commercially available varieties. When these companies drop a variety from the National List they sometimes supply a sample for our Seed Library. Another small group of accessions are varieties that are commercially available somewhere in the world. By far the largest proportion, however, come to us from other seed savers in the UK and elsewhere in the world. Some of these are definitely commercial varieties that have been maintained by amateurs. Others are definitely heirlooms that, as far as their donors know, have never been offered commercially. And a few have been treated as heirlooms but are probably (or possibly) of commercial origin. As a general rule, we do not turn down any variety we are offered. The Genetic Resources department's stated mission is: to conserve as much crop biodiversity as possible and to make as many varieties available as we can. This formally embodies the joint goal that typifies the informal sector, of conservation through utilisation. However, the very legislation that makes the existence of the Seed Library necessary also makes it impossible easily to fulfil our mission, because the simple sale of seeds of unregistered varieties is illegal. For that reason, the department operates what is essentially a club, the Heritage Seed Programme. For an annual fee, members receive a quarterly newsletter and other information, discounts on publications and activities, and the choice of up to five varieties each year. We frankly acknowledge that many members regard the Heritage Seed Programme as no more than a somewhat unusual seed supply merchant, and no more, a source for varieties that happen
to be unavailable elsewhere. The club is then simply a legal nicety. Others have an interest in wider issues of plant genetic resources. But all probably regard the annual offerings of the Seed Library catalogue as the most important thing the Programme does. Because of this, our primary activity beyond conservation is to produce enough seed for distribution to members. As an idea of the scale of this enterprise, in 1993 we distributed about 15,000 samples. In 1994, having harvested more than 50 kg of assorted seed, we plan to distribute about 25,000 samples. We use two techniques to ensure ourselves of a good supply of seed. At HDRA's headquarters we grow, each year, a subset of the complete library. This grow-out consists of about 100 varieties each year, selected on the basis of routine germination testing, popularity with users, and the requirements of good horticultural practices. Varietal purity is maintained by the use of standard techniques. In addition, some of our members agree to become Seed Guardians. They choose to take responsibility for multiplying up one or two of the Seed Library varieties and returning bulk seed to us for distribution to members. Seed Guardians receive no additional reward, except our gratitude and, sometimes, offers of varieties that are in too short supply to make generally available. We do give Seed Guardians training, verbally on request and in the form of published Seed Guardian Guidelines that offer practical advice on seed saving in general and specific crops in particular. (These guidelines are also made available to ordinary members of the Heritage Seed Programme who want to know more about saving their own seed without committing themselves to becoming Seed Guardians.) We also plan, from 1994, to organise oneday practical training seminars. While the conservation and dissemination of the Seed Library varieties is the primary activity of the department, we are also concerned to gather information and campaign on issues of plant genetic resources. Our primary publication is Leaflet, a newsletter published four times a year and sent to all members of the Heritage Seed Programme. We also publish an annual compilation called The Vegetable Finder. This is effectively a catalogue of catalogues; it lists mail-order sources for every vegetable variety commercially available in the UK, and descriptions for almost all the open-pollinated varieties. As such, it is useful to all vegetable gardeners, but is also offers the Heritage Seed Programme an interesting window on the commercial trade in varieties and enables us to say interesting things about crop biodiversity as part of our ongoing campaign. Availability of Diversity The graphs (Figure 1) show the area planted to different varieties of potato in each of the three maturity classes. One can see that the top three varieties account for most of the area in each case. Leaving aside the wider implications of this very clear manifestation of genetic erosion, the obvious corollary of this is that these varieties will be the easiest for the consumer to buy as eating potatoes in the shops. What of the gardener? Figure 2 plots the availability of the 150 seed potato varieties listed in The Vegetable Finder. Note that every one of the top three varieties in each maturity class is available from 5 or more suppliers, unlike the vast majority of varieties. (The discrepancy would be even more marked if we extended the analysis to the top four or five). The point is simply that the potato varieties that are easiest to buy in the shops for eating are among the easiest for the gardener to find as seed potatoes for growing in the garden. It seems quite certain that the requirements of the commercial potato grower are bound to be different from those of the amateur, and yet the amateur has to exercise considerable skill and effort to find
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to be unavailable elsewhere. The club is then simply a legal nicety. Others have an interest in<br />
wider issues <strong>of</strong> plant genetic resources. But all probably regard the annual <strong>of</strong>ferings <strong>of</strong> the Seed<br />
Library catalogue as the most important thing the Programme does. Because <strong>of</strong> this, our primary<br />
activity beyond conservation is to produce enough seed for distribution to members. As an idea<br />
<strong>of</strong> the scale <strong>of</strong> this enterprise, in 1993 we distributed about 15,000 samples. In 1994, having<br />
harvested more than 50 kg <strong>of</strong> assorted seed, we plan to distribute about 25,000 samples.<br />
We use two techniques to ensure ourselves <strong>of</strong> a good supply <strong>of</strong> seed. At HDRA's headquarters<br />
we grow, each year, a subset <strong>of</strong> the complete library. This grow-out consists <strong>of</strong> about 100<br />
varieties each year, selected on the basis <strong>of</strong> routine germination testing, popularity with users, and<br />
the requirements <strong>of</strong> good horticultural practices. Varietal purity is maintained by the use <strong>of</strong><br />
standard techniques. In addition, some <strong>of</strong> our members agree to become Seed Guardians. They<br />
choose to take responsibility for multiplying up one or two <strong>of</strong> the Seed Library varieties and<br />
returning bulk seed to us for distribution to members. Seed Guardians receive no additional<br />
reward, except our gratitude and, sometimes, <strong>of</strong>fers <strong>of</strong> varieties that are in too short supply to<br />
make generally available. We do give Seed Guardians training, verbally on request and in the<br />
form <strong>of</strong> published Seed Guardian Guidelines that <strong>of</strong>fer practical advice on seed saving in general<br />
and specific crops in particular. (These guidelines are also made available to ordinary members<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Heritage Seed Programme who want to know more about saving their own seed without<br />
committing themselves to becoming Seed Guardians.) We also plan, from 1994, to organise oneday<br />
practical training seminars.<br />
While the conservation and dissemination <strong>of</strong> the Seed Library varieties is the primary activity <strong>of</strong><br />
the department, we are also concerned to gather information and campaign on issues <strong>of</strong> plant<br />
genetic resources. Our primary publication is Leaflet, a newsletter published four times a year<br />
and sent to all members <strong>of</strong> the Heritage Seed Programme. We also publish an annual compilation<br />
called The Vegetable Finder. This is effectively a catalogue <strong>of</strong> catalogues; it lists mail-order<br />
sources for every vegetable variety commercially available in the UK, and descriptions for almost<br />
all the open-pollinated varieties. As such, it is useful to all vegetable gardeners, but is also <strong>of</strong>fers<br />
the Heritage Seed Programme an interesting window on the commercial trade in varieties and<br />
enables us to say interesting things about crop biodiversity as part <strong>of</strong> our ongoing campaign.<br />
Availability <strong>of</strong> Diversity<br />
The graphs (Figure 1) show the area planted to different varieties <strong>of</strong> potato in each <strong>of</strong> the three<br />
maturity classes. One can see that the top three varieties account for most <strong>of</strong> the area in each<br />
case. Leaving aside the wider implications <strong>of</strong> this very clear manifestation <strong>of</strong> genetic erosion, the<br />
obvious corollary <strong>of</strong> this is that these varieties will be the easiest for the consumer to buy as eating<br />
potatoes in the shops. What <strong>of</strong> the gardener? Figure 2 plots the availability <strong>of</strong> the 150 seed<br />
potato varieties listed in The Vegetable Finder. Note that every one <strong>of</strong> the top three varieties in<br />
each maturity class is available from 5 or more suppliers, unlike the vast majority <strong>of</strong> varieties.<br />
(The discrepancy would be even more marked if we extended the analysis to the top four or five).<br />
The point is simply that the potato varieties that are easiest to buy in the shops for eating are<br />
among the easiest for the gardener to find as seed potatoes for growing in the garden. It seems<br />
quite certain that the requirements <strong>of</strong> the commercial potato grower are bound to be different<br />
from those <strong>of</strong> the amateur, and yet the amateur has to exercise considerable skill and effort to find