Establishment of a Network for Genetic Resources

Abstract

Systematic germplasm creation and deployment is the basis for the establishment of the ITA’s first ‘Co-operative Network’. Membership of the network will normally require an active contribution by an individual or organisation in the development of germplasm resources. Membership will also be afforded to organisations with a mandate for the development of regionally adapted germplasm. The germplasm centre at CIMMYT is willing to take a leadership role in the documentation, maintenance and distribution of newly developed germplasm. Germplasm will be freely interchanged among members of the co-operative, and all materials held in the CIMMYT collection will be available on request. The management committee will be subject to election by participating members of the co-operative during a meeting to be held at each International Triticale Symposium. The management committee is responsible for approving and amending membership lists and for co-ordinating various aspects of germplasm research. The genetic resources will initially include primary triticales, selected progenies from primary (or amphihaploid) times primary or secondary triticale crosses, standard wheats and ryes for triticale production or standard triticales with special attributes (eg. good GCA, disease resistance, spontaneous doubling genes for haploid producing systems, good green/albino ratio for anther culture derived regenerants, male sterility for germplasm deployment and recurrent selection, etc.). The network objectives, methodologies (strategies for germplasm production and evaluation/deployment), data and communication bases and contributions of the authors are presented along with membership and nomination lists for completion by intending participants.