Conservation of Genetic resources

Question 1

5 key indicators of CBD

Answer 1

1. Trends in abundance and distribution of selected species
2. Change in status of threatened and/or protected species
3. Trends in the extent of selected ecosystems and habitats
4. Trends in genetic diversity of domesticated animals, cultivated plants and fish of socio-economic importance
5. Coverage of protected areas

Question 2

Agricultural biodiversity includes:

Answer 2

Crops 
Livestock
CWR
Semi-domesticated relatives of livestock
Pollinators
Fauna and Flora
Soil microorganisms

Question 3

Issues with crops

Answer 3

30 plants provide 95% of all calories, 12 make up 75% and 4 provide 60%
Food production needs to increase by 70%, CC is reducing this by 2% each decade

Question 4

Why is crop diversity important?

Answer 4

Ensures stability and reduces risk, ensures food security, and reduces the threat of disease

Question 5

Threats to agrobiodiversity

Answer 5

Replacement by modern varieties/breeds
Agricultural infestation (vulnerable to disease)
Changes in land use 
Increased human population
Human poverty
Land degradation 
Social, economic and environmental change
Climate change

Question 6

Ex situ agrobiodiversity strategies

Answer 6

Field gene bank
Cryopreservation
Seed storage
Tissue culture

Question 7

In situ agrobiodiversity strategies

Answer 7

On-farm
Home gardens
Wild habitats
(unable with recalcitrant)

Question 8

Define genetic resources

Answer 8

Genetic material of animals and plants which is of value as a resource for the present and future generation of people

Question 9

Aim of agrobiodiversity

Answer 9

To conserve a broad range of genetic diversity found in target species to maximise chances of conserving potentially adaptive genes

Question 10

Germplasm accessions

Answer 10

Currently, 7.4 million germplasm accessions have been conserved, 70% of the genetic diversity of 300 plants has been conserved

Question 11

When does crop domestication occur?

Answer 11

Unconscious selection for seed retention
Modifications of glumes 
Reduced seed coat thickness
The greater size of harvested organs 
Rapid and uniform germination
Synchronisation of flowering

Question 12

Where has crop domestication occurred and whats the impact of this?

Answer 12

Fertile Crescent, near Syria, Turkey etc

Has led to centres of diversity, there are 8 world centres which are the crops centre of origin

Question 13

Define CWR

Answer 13

A wild plant taxon that has an indirect use derived from its relatively close genetic relationship to a crop. The relationship is determined in terms of the CWR belonging to gene pools 1 or 2 or taxon groups 1 to 4

Question 14

Gene pools

Answer 14

GP - 1: A cultivated form and the wild form of the crops

GP - 2: Includes the coenospecies (gene transfer possible)

Question 15

Taxon groups

Answer 15

TG - 1: Same species or same crop
TG - 2: Same series or section
TG - 3: Same subgenus
TG - 4: Same genus

Question 16

UK CWR conservation efforts

Answer 16

50 designated sites to CWR protection

CWR genetic reserve established in Cornwall

Question 17

In situ CWR conservation

Answer 17

Genetic reserves
On-farm
Home garden

Question 18

Ex situ CWR conservation

Answer 18

Seed storage
Field gene banks
Botanic gardens

Question 19

In vitro CWR conservation

Answer 19

Slow growth
Cryopreservation
DNA

Question 20

Orthodox seed species include:

Answer 20

Seeds with high viability

Long term conservation

Question 21

How to store seeds

Answer 21

Either;
1. Reduce moisture content to 5% then store at -20
2. Reduce moisture content to <5% and store at room temp
Recalcitrant seeded crops cant be frozen and so can be kept in a field gene bank

Question 22

Explain in vitro storage

Answer 22

Used with slow growing plants, germplasm of the mother plant establishes shoot culture (micropropagation) Subculture is then transferred onto growth retarding medium and stored at a reduced temperature, this is repeated every 3 years

Question 23

Define breeds:

Answer 23

A group of domestic livestock with definable and identifiable external characteristics that distinguish it from others of the same species

Question 24

Threats

Answer 24

Only found locally, and lack of genetic diversity