Overview and I L T Ti F ITPGRFA Implementation of ITPGRFA in Lebanon

Overview and impl ement ati on of ITPGRFA in Lebanon. Lebanon is a small country (10 452 kmkm22), located in the Near East Fertile region where domestication of species started ten thousand years ago.

Lebanon Characterize by a climatic diversity ranging from semi-semi-aridarid to humid, that allow for a large number of plant genetic resources to live Cultivated area in 2007

Others Cereals 9% Olives 25% 21%

Vegetables Fruit trees 15% 30% The main crops grown in Lebanon are olives, fruit trees and cerealhls each represen ting over 20% o fthttlf the total culti ltitdvated area in the country, followed by tubers and fruity vegetables. Loss in species number

96 terrestrial species are listed as rare Endemism in Lebanon: 84 3948 Species 2597 Species

Mouterde (1966) Tohmeh (2007)

• to hhbittabitat conversi on

•adoption of new varieties

• land reclamation

• climate change

•overgrazing International Treaty on Plilant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture based on the Law No. 559 dated 11/2/2004, Lebanon has signed and ratified the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for food and Agriculture

Objectives are: CidiblfConservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and Agriculture

•Equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of their use Main obligations in the ITPGRFA

According to the article 5.1,The contracting parties are obliged to promote appropriate policy and legal measures : •CtiConservation, expltiloration, collec tion, Characterization , Evaluation and documentation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. •Sustainable use of plant genetic resources •Farmers'rights •The Multilateral System for access and benefit-sharing Implementation of The ITPGRFA LARI

MOA Universities MOE

CNRS

Farmers NGOS

. ِ Activities Related to ITPGRFA 1- Ex situ conservation Some PGRFA stored in ICARDAٍ

The L eb anese A gri cul tural R esearch Insti tute (LARI) i n coll a borat ion w it h ICARDA, collected more than 1969 accessions of wild wheat relatives and forage from Bekaa region and conserved them in CGIAR (ICARDA) gene banks. Species and number of accessions related to the Annex 1 of the treaty stored at CGIAR (ICARDA) genebanks.

Crop Species Number of accessions Faba Bean/Vetch Vicia ervilia 1 Vicia faba 36 Vicia hybrida 1 Vicia mollis 2 Vicia narbonensis 37 Vicia palastina 3 Vicia peregrina 3 Vicia sativa 9 Vicia sp 1 Vicia villosa 1 Medicago Medicago sativa 104 Medicago scutellata 2 Medicago rigidula 25 Medicago truncatula 71 Trifolium Trifolium alexandrinum 1 Trifolium arvense 1 Trifolium repens 3 Triflfolium resupinatum 19 Dactylis Dactylis glomerata 2 Onobrychis Onobrychis sp 1 Maize Zea Mays 7 Cowpea et al Vigna unguiculata 2 Triticum Triticum aestivum 43 Triticum monococcum 9 Triticum secal 4 Triticum turgidum 112 Triticum urartu 16 Triticale Triticosecale sp. 9 Sorghum Sorghom bicolor 360 Eggplant Solanum melongena 1 Pea Pisum sativum 3 Lentil Lens culinaris 84 Lens ervoides 15 Lens orientalis 4 Chickpea Cicer arietinum 47 Cicer pinnatifidum 1 Barley Hordeum vulgare 52 Grass pea Lathyrus gorgoni 1 Lathyrus hierosolymitanus 2 Total 1095 LEBANESE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE PLANT BREEDING DEPARTMENT

Millennium Seed Bank Project

In Collaboration With Royal Botanic Gardens-UK Species related to the Annex 1 of the treaty stored at LARI genebanks (Tal amara)

Crop Species Number of species Atriplex AtilAtriplex pat tlula, Atri pl ex semib accat a 2 Beet Beta vulgaris 1 Brassica complex Barbarea plantaginea, Biscutella didyma, Brassica cretica, Brassica rapa, 14 Crambe orientalis, Diplotaxis erucoides, Isatis lusitanica, Lepidium sativum, Lepidium spinosum, Raphanus pugioniformis, Raphanus raphanistrum, Raphanus sativus, Sinapis alba, Sinapis arvensis Yams Dioscorea communis, Dioscorea orientalis 2 Faba Bean/Vetch Vicia canescens, Vicia cuspidate, Vicia palaestina, Vicia parviflora, Vicia 6 sativa, Vicia tenuifolia Lotus Lotus corniculatus, Lotus tenuis 2 Medicago Medicago astroites, Medicago sativa 2 Melilotus Melilotus albus 1 Trifolium Trifolium angustifolium, Trifolium arvense, Trifolium resupinatum 3 Agrostis Agrostis stolonifera 1 Arrhenatherum Arrhenatherum elatius 1 Dactylis Dactylis glomerata 1 Festuca Festuca arundinacea 1 Lolium Lolium perenne 1 Phalaris Phalaris aquatica 1 Phleum Phleum pratense 1 Pearl Millet Pennisetum setaceum 1 Sorghum Sorghum halepense 1 Solanum Solanum alatum, Solanum nigrum 2 Total 44

More than 1500 wild accessions representing 972 species are stored both at LARI and RBG seed banks. Fruit trees species conserved ex situ at LARI stations

Species Number of varieties Type of conserved varieties Olea europea 32 LlLocal accessi ons and advanced cultivars Vitis vinifera 40 Local accessions and advanced cultivars Prunus domestica 32 Advanced and improved cultivars Prunus armeniaca 24 Advanced and improved cultivars Prunus avium 21 Advanced and improved cultivars Prunus persica 17 Advanced and improved cultivars Prunus dulcis 12 Advanced and improved cultivars Ficus carica 28 Local accessions Citrus sp 69 Advanced and improved cultivars Vitis vinifera 32 Traditional accessions and improved cultivars Total 307

Regarding fruit species, field gene banks were established at LARI the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute allocates some of its budget to fund programmes for the conservations of genetic resources.

A national seed bank will be established in the next couple of years under technical and scientific advice of Royal Botanic gardens 2- In situ conservation Projects related to in situ conservation

•Strengthening of national capacity and grassroots in-situ conservation for sustainable biodiversity protection” (MoE/UNDP/GEF; 1996-2005) •Conservation of wetlands and coastal zones in the Mediterranean- MedWetCoast” Project (MoE/UNDP/FFEM; 2002-2006) •Integrated management of cedar forests” Project (MoE/AUB/UNEP/GEF;2004-2007) •Stable institutional framework for protected areas management- SISPAM"Project (MoE, EC LIFE; 2004-2007) •Conservation and sustainable use of dryland Agrobiodiversity” (LARI/UNDP/GEF; 1999-2005) •Sustainable use of natural resources Project (Private Initiatives//;IBSAR;2004-2006) •Wild edible plants: Promoting dietary diversity in poor communities of Lebanon” Project (IDRC/AUB; 2004-2006) •Mainstreaming biodiversity management into medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPS) (LARI/UNDP/GEF; 2008-2012) Nature reserves in Lebanon (in-situ conservation) Horsh Ehden: Law 121, 9/3/1992

Palm Island: Law 121, 9/3/1992

Shouf Cedars: Law 532, 24/7/1996

Tyre Coast: Law 708, 5/11/1998

Bentael: Law 11, 20/2/1999

Yammouni: Law 10, 20/2/1999

Tannourine Cedars: Law 9, 20/2/1999

Protected areas in Lebanon: 200Km2

The in situ conservation and management of genetic resources has increased in Lebanon over the recent years. This is reflected by an increase in the number of protected areas spread across the country. Seven natural reserves have been established between 1992 and 1999 through laws approved by the parliament. 3- Characterization of Plant Genetic Resources

Morphological Characterization

Molecular Characterization Shamouti Shamouti Moro Sokkari 4 5 7 6

Ovoïde

Semi-deltoïde CéifCunéiforme Clavif orme Fusiforme

Morphological Diversity

Abou sorra 3 Sokkari 6 of CITRUS SINENSIS 48 accessio ns

6 groups at 0.26

Dendogram of 48 accessions of Citrus sinensis bdbased on 86 discriminant morphological traits Spike colour Ear shape

Diversity of salamouni wheat variety

Glume shape Spike density Diversity of salamouni wheat var iety

20/300 Lines

Dendogram of different lines of Salamouni wheat variety based on 24 discriminant morphological traits Wild Almond

A.communis It an it e

A. korshinskyi Wadi faara

A. communisZeghrine

A. communisKousaya 32

A. communis Kousaya 33

Var. K hachabi

A . ko rsh inskyi Ainata

Var. Baladi

Var. Halawani double kernels

Var.Metwi

A. orientalis Wadi Kahil

A . o rientalis W adi Soueid

A . o rientalis Wadi Zaarour

A. orientalis Ain Shaab

A. orientalis Zeghrine

A. orientalisWadi turkman

A. spartioides Fe rz o l

0.30 0.36 0.42 0.48

Coefficient Dendogram constructed from 16 single- locus SSR usinggpg, SimGen program, Jaccard distance, and UPGMA clustering 47/48

Vitis vinifera

AiAbidAmarcani Abiad Groupe I Loulhalou Aasiri Maksasi Ashlamish Abiad Khoudri Zaitouni Diversity of berry shape Boulbouli Asouad Ashlamish Ahmar Souri Zahlaoui Groupe II Souri Souri Mhayyar Oubaidi Mariami Nari Moukh Al-Baghel Nabi Zeiny Nih Rins Zagfzaghani Maghdoushi Amarcani Asouad Bzaz Al- Anzi Oubeidi: Round Samaani Abiad: Oblate Maghdoushi: Obtuse ovate Al-Mir: Obovate Amarcani Souri Ainouni Asouad Baitamouni Asouad Groupe III Houzairani BiBaitamouni Karn Al- Ghazal Gnoubi Gbaii Arasani Asali Al-Mir Maghdoushi Mgaddad Yafaoui Groupe IV Raha Misky Souri Asouad Bakhouri Groupe V Tfaifihi Baitamouni: Oblong Karn Al-Ghazal: Arched Baitamouni Asouad: Narrow elliptic Zaghzaghani: Elliptic Aasmi Samaani Asouad Groupe VI Bourji Ari Samaani Abiad 010.1 Distance de Jaccard

Dendogram constructed from 9 morphological traits, using SimGen program, Jaccard distance, and UPGMA

clustering with 48 accessions. Biadi hameri Biadi 1 Biadi mtawal

Biadi sghir Biadi 2 Biadi 9

Kaab ghazal Meski Aswad 10

Aswad 9 Aswad assali Diversity fruit shape of fig Ficus carica 37/62 Aadlouni Bekrati 3 Naaoussi 1 Aalayni Bertati Aasfouri Jeld-el-Tawr Chatawi 5 Aswad 11 Aswad 8 Hmayri JabaJabalili 2 Jabali 1 Inbi Biadi sghir Biadi 9 Biadi 7 Biadi 6 Biadi 5 Biadi 4 Biadi 2 Biadi 12 Biadi 11 Biadi 1 Biadi 10 Bekrati 4 Américan Jammali Aswad 14 Chebli Sbaii 1 Sbaii 3 Sbaii 2 Aassali Arassi Chatawi 1 Aswad 4 Aswad 6 Ahmar Meski Soukari Chatawi 3 Chatawi 4 French 1 Aswad 2 Bekrati 2 Sidani Biadi hameri Bekrati 1 Bekrati 7 Naaoussi 2 Chatawi 2 Chatawi 6 Aswad 12 Aswad 10 Aswad sghir IiliIraqui sultani Bekrati aswad Kaab ghazal Chatawi 8 Iraqui 1 Iraqui 2 0.1 Dendogram constructed from 11 single-locus SSR, using SimQual program, Jaccard distance and UPGMA clustering with the 62 fig clones

Olea europea 27/36

Single Linkage

Baladi1 Hermel Baladi2 Quana Shami Koura Baladi1 Ain Baladi1Aain Baal Baladi1Rmediyeh Roumani4 Quana Dal1 Bakifa Baladi3 Quana Baladi Roumani Deir Aamess Remmani3 Koura Abou Chawkeh el-Fakeh Baladi Kbir1 Koura Balah el-Labweh Baladi2 Nabi Chite Roumani 1 Aitaroun Bisani2 Aitaroun Baladi3 Koura Baladi6 Koura Aayrouni Shouf Remmani7 Koura Sabbighi Shouf Baladi10 Koura Baladi3 Shouf Baladi5 el-Fakeh Baladi Mabroum1 Koura Remmani1 Koura Baladi Jlot Lala Baladi1 Sheheen Roumani7 Quana Baladi2 Hermel Baladi2 Ain Bisani2 Bakifa Kalbe el-Tair el-Labweh Baladi2 Rmediyeh Baladi1 Janata

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 Euclidean Distances

Dendogram of 36 olive accessions based on 15 discriminant morphological traits 4-Seed multiplication

The Lebanese Agriculture Research Institute is conducting some development activities such as:

•Production of quality seeds (mainly wheat) in order to provide treated and cleaned wheat seeds to the farmers. 55--InIn vitropropagation for the production of certified material

Sanitation by mersitem culture or thermotherapy

Micropropagation

Application for economically important crops:

- Stone fruits - Banana - SbStrawberry - Potato - Caper and ornamentals 6-Notification to the Multilateral System

The Lebanese Agriculture Research Institute introduced 44 species for 19 crops listed in Annex 1 under the conditions of the Standard Material Transfer Agreement of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture Species related to the Annex 1 of the treaty stored at LARI genebanks (Tal amara)

44 species for 19 crops introduced under the SMTA 7-Reports

•The Lebanese Agriculture Research Institute reported to the secretariat of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture information related to the Multilateral System of access and benefit-sharing of Lebanon (IT/GB-4/11/Inf.9 Appendix 5) (Chehade, 2010).

•The Ministry of Environment was prepared the third national report of Lebanon to the convention on biological diversity (Jaradi et al, 2005). Lebanon has already prepared the second country report on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, . which is available on www.pgrfa.org website 8-Legislation According to the Law No. 559 dated 11/2/2004 that allows the Lebanese government to join the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for food and Agriculture, a draft law On the management of Plant genetic resources for Food and Agriculture in Lebanon is currently under preparation in order to be issued by the parliament

The Lebanese Agriculture Research Institute that is a focal Point has made amendments on the draft law in coordination with MOA, MOE, Universities and CNRS. Model Law on The Management of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture Arab Organization for Agricultural Development The Minister of Agriculture shall be responsible for the implementa tion of this Law (Arti cle 5)

The Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute shall be responsible for carrying out the functions assigned to the Authority under this Law (Article 6)

A Plant Genetic Resources Committee will be established (Article 7)

Conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (Article 8)

Sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (Article 9)

Protection and promotion of farmers’ rights (Article 10)

Protection of farmers' plant varieties (Article 11)

Implementation of the Multilateral System (Article 12) 9-WkhWorkshops related To PGRFA

•Workshop on negotiating and discussion a Lebanese model law on the management of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, held at the Lebanese Agriculture Research Institute, Rayak Tal amara ( 18-21/10/2009). Reducing Vulnerability to Climate Change in Agricultural Systems Organized by LARI and held in Baalbeck (11-12/10/2010).

One of the pri oriti zed opti ons identifi ed by this workshop aimed to maintain the genetic diversity of the dominant wild species and local varieties adapted to climatic change of Baalbeck region for wheat, barley, Prunus, fig and caper National needs

The government of Lebanon should consider the plant genetic resources and their sustainable use as a national priority. In this regard, there is a need to:

•Provide financial support for training and strengthening ifinfrast ruct ure (Gene Bank) •Scientific, technical and educational trainings aiming at technology transfer

•Define the genetic resources found in Lebanon and its location

.Raise awareness for farmers and consumers using common languages and vulgarized information

•Promote the function of the plant genetic resources committee to finalize the Lebanese model law on the management of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture in order to be issued by the parliament