Implementation of the Programme for Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources in the Republic of Srpska from 2009 to 2012

Abstract

The Programme for Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources in the Republic of Srpska was established in 2008. The main objective of the Programme is effective management of plant genetic resources through carrying out of continuous field inventories and collection, evaluation, exchange and conservation of germplasm. The Genetic Resources Institute, University of Banja Luka was appointed as a expert unit for coordination and implementation of the Programme. In the period from 2009 to 2011, the inventory was made for part of the area of the Republic of Srpska. An innovative approach was adopted for conservation of plant genetic resources by means of long-term seed preservation, in vitro conservation, morphological and molecular characterisation, as well as regular database updates. Contacts were established with producers for the purpose of on farm protection of local ecotypes and populations. An ex situ collection was established in the Botanic Garden for plant species that can not be conserved in the form of seeds. By the end of 2011, the Gene Bank had reached its full operation with 455 accessions in long-term storage (-18^oC), around 150 accessions in the working collection and 100 accessions in the field collection. With its 91 accessions, the Genetic Resources Institute is part of a European web-based catalogue of inventories of plant genetic resources (EURISCO). Having adopted the Programme, the Republic of Srpska has not only fulfilled one of the world's peremptory obligations to conserve biodiversity of agricultural crops, but also a moral obligation to future generations.