Integration of Conservation Strategies of Plant Genetic ... - Genres

The Germplasm Institute has been recently contacted and consulted by several Italian scientists,
institutions and private associations for playing an active role in starting a sort of national coordination
with the aim to increase and improve both conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources in Italy.
After several meetings it has been realized that there are some difficulties in coordinating formal and
informal sectors. However since there are no doubts that a kind of coordinating is necessary national
workshops on this matter have been suggested and foreseen.
Meanwhile some Regions are interacting with the Germplasm Institute for submitting to the EC regional
projects concerning conservation and utilization of threatened indigenous germplasm. This initiative is
in agreement with the new proposal for a Council Regulation ( EEC ) on the conservation,
characterization and utilization of genetic resources in agriculture and other recent proposals for a
sustainable agriculture.
5.7 Germnet project
People who deal with plant breeding of cultivated species often meet with the difficulty to have promptly
available the information on the genetic variability existing in nature. The on-line data bases represent
an example of how this obstacle can be overcome. The Germnet project is intended to realize a computer
system for the whole country which connects the institutions interested in exchanging information on
the available germplasm.
The idea is to set up a communication network formed of nodes placed in different geographic areas
inside the research centres interested in taking part to the initiative, integrating the already existing
resources and creating new ones where necessary. The network will also include heterogeneous nodes
(different hardware), linked through dedicated lines of data transmission (such as the EARN net).
Through the use of Germnet it will be possible to connect the different Italian Institutes interested in the
exchange of data, images and any other information on germplasm. This network will consist of a central
node and other nodes scattered all over the country. Moreover, it should also be possible to have access
to other national networks, such as CARR (connecting CNR, CILEA, CINECA, etc.) and IATINET
(connecting CSATA, CRES, CRAI, CRIAI, CORISA). Each node will be linked to the public network
ITAPAC both to have alternative and reserved routes and to connect the different nodes directly to the
users.
To summarize, Germnet will be based on computerized image data bases whose aims will be to:
- organize data and images on germplasm collections;
- give users access to the existing data bases;
- distribute information;
- have access to data located elsewhere.
In general, the services of this network will consist in: interactive exchange of messages, electronic mail,
file transfer, inquiry and retrieval of information, images, and plant material. Moreover, Germnet not
only will be a service, but will also include programmes relative to:
- the development of technologies concerning the organization of information (i.e. the realization of a
new software) for a better data management;
- the development of softwares for the acquisition, elaboration and management of images;
- the acquisition of new information on the existing genetic material.
Usually the number of traits studied is limited because of the high number of samples analysed. The
analysis of traits such as resistance to particular biotic and abiotic stresses requires a study much more
specific than the study on morphological traits, but would allow to bring out the genetic patrimony