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

others by acceptance of base collection responsibility for a number of crops (see 2.2). Central in
the approach is the establishment of crop-networks of genebanks holding collections of the
particular crops and coordinated with the help of common international crop data bases.
At the regional level, the CGN participates in the European Cooperative Programme on Plant
Genetic Resources Networks (ECP/GR), linking programmes in both Eastern and Western
Europe. In addition the CGN has a bilateral agreement of cooperation with the FAL, Germany,
on joint programmes in wild species of potato and in beets. A similar arrangement is in discussion
with HRI in Wellesbourne (U.K.) on a number of horticultural crops.
1.3 Internal organization
The CGN has a technical staff of 10 persons supported by 4 field staff. One staff member is
stationed at the FAL, Germany, as head of the potato genebank in the German-Dutch cooperative
programme.
Activities are coordinated by a director with a part-time secretary. Within the genebank three
departments can be distinguished:
- Crop department
Responsible for the compilation and description of strategic crop collections, and promotion
of their use by the scientific and breeding community. The staff consists of 3 academic staff
(one stationed in Germany) and 2 technical assistants.
- Seed management department
Responsible for the safe storage of germplasm and supervision of both quantitative and
qualitative factors affecting the availability of germplasm and staffed by a part-time
coordinator and a part-time assistant.
- Documentation/methodology department
Responsible for the development and management of systems for the storage of information
on genetic resources and the stimulation and support of the use of these systems.
Furthermore it provides methodological scientific support on all decisions within the
genebank concerning the composition of collections and seed handling procedures. Staff
consists of a coordinator with a part-time data typist and an analyst.
Field and greenhouse facilities, including personnel, are provided by the CPRO. Some
regenerations are carried out by the crop departments of the CPRO and by private breeding
organisations, the latter as an in-kind form of support.
Its compact nature facilitates direct communication between the various departments and provides
a flexible and efficient organizational framework for genebank activities.
Evaluation and some regeneration is carried out in close collaboration with public and private
breeding organizations. These organizations also participate in crop advisory committees, which
provide the genebank with the indispensable feedback from the user community. Crop advisory
committees exist for cereals, pulses, fodder crops, crucifers and lettuce.
Besides private and public breeding organizations, extensive contacts have been developed with
organizations engaged in relevant scientific disciplines such as the department of Taxonomy of
Wageningen Agricultural University.
Since 1974 there is an agreement between the Ministries responsible for agriculture in Germany