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Crop wild relatives

The Wild Relatives Project

The benefits of foods from the

The value of wild relatives Managing Editor Contents Ruth D. Raymond An introduction to crop wild relatives 1 Assistant Managing Editor The Crop Wild Relatives Project 2 Cassandra Moore Use crop wild relatives or lose them! 3 Intern Kelly Wagner Wild foods are rich in micronutrients 4

Design & layout The benefits of foods from the forests 5 Patrizia Tazza Frances Ferraiuolo The value of wild relatives 6

Cover Photo Bringing crop relatives to the public 7 The wild relatives of could provide solutions for Spicy wild relatives get some respect 8 improving the crop, which is notoriously difficult to breed. The importance of wild in Sri Lanka 9 Karen Robinson/Panos Wild relatives offer new lease on life to an ancient 10 Pictures Global conference maps out future for wild relatives 11 © Bioversity International 2006 Regional catalogue supports national strategies 12 Reprinted from Geneflow 2006. Putting diversity back into 13

Protecting the wild relatives of walnut 14

Saving 's pistachio diversity 15

Ask the old women 16

Tapping the potential of medicinal and aromatic in northern 17

Climate change threatens wild relatives with extinction 18

This publication was Wild relative may blunt late blight 19 supported by the UNEP/GEF On the rocks 20 project "In situ conservation of crop wild relatives through Spreading the word about wild relatives 21 enhanced information management and field Wild relatives could help boost berry market 22 application." Groundnut relatives hit the spot 23

Glossary 24 

An introduction to crop wild relatives

Crop wild relatives include value of some , crop ancestors as well as including content other species more or less in wheat, calcium closely related to crops. content in potatoes and They are a critical source provitamin A in . of for resistance to diseases, pests and Protecting crop wild stresses such as relatives helps to ensure and extreme temperatures. that adequate genetic The use of wild relatives has diversity exists in a led to improved resistance particular crop’s pool. to wheat curl mite, to late The increasing genetic blight in potato and to uniformity of crop varieties, grassy stunt disease in combined with the effects . They have been used of climate change, makes to improve tolerance of crops more vulnerable to drought in wheat and acid stress. The devastating Crop wild sulphate in rice. Wild losses in the American

relatives are relatives have also been crop caused by A. Lane/Bioversity International valuable tools used to raise the nutritional the Southern corn blight Passion , Bolivia. Crop wild relatives are a valuable source outbreak in the USA in the of variation that can be used to help crops adapt to changing 1970s highlighted the real environmental conditions and human needs. risk of relying on a few high- yielding varieties. While involves partners from problems. One such the USA produces about five countries—Armenia, major threat is , a half of the world’s maize, Bolivia, Madagascar, Sri black-stem first found production is based on less Lanka and Uzbekistan—with in Ugandan wheat in than 5% of the diversity significant, important 1999. This pathogen has available worldwide. and threatened crop been appearing in fields wild relatives. For more throughout East Crop wild relatives are information about the ever since, where it is valuable tools that we can project, see the story on p. 2. reducing grain yields by up use to adapt to changing to 71%. If not conquered environmental conditions This special section of soon, Ug99 could become and human needs, but Geneflow is sponsored by a global epidemic within natural populations of wild the Crop Wild Relatives the next 15 years. The relatives are increasingly at Project as part of its conservation and use of risk, due to over-exploitation awareness-raising activities. crop wild relatives could

A. Lane/Bioversity International and the loss of habitat. A hold the key to meeting Walnuts are one of the target crops for the UNEP/GEF–Bioversity global project, launched As understanding and the challenge of Ug99 and International project on crop wild relatives. in 2004, addresses these knowledge of crop wild other threats to risks. The project, funded relatives increases, and . For further information, contact by the Global Environment breeders will increasingly Annie Lane, Bioversity Facility and implemented look to them for solutions By Annie Lane, International by the to many of the world’s Bioversity International [email protected] Environment Programme, unsolved plant disease  

The project outcomes will The Crop Wild Relatives Project provide the basis for strategies that could be applied in other Facility and implemented ecology, conservation countries by the United Nations status, distribution, Environment Programme, crop production little in common beyond the promotes effective in situ potential, uses, existing fact that they are located conservation of crop wild conservation actions in centres of relatives to ensure their and existing information and possess important availability for improving sources. and endangered crop wild global food security. Each relatives in their mountain of the five project countries • To build the capacity systems, will collectively has a remarkably rich and of national partners to make a major contribution unique diversity of crop wild use this information to to the conservation of crop relatives, many of which develop and implement wild relatives globally. have contributed vital genes rational, cost-effective for crop improvement in approaches to Bioversity International is developed and developing conserving crop wild the executing agency for countries. relatives. the project and five other A. Lane/Bioversity International international organizations on display at a Bringing together five Although most of the partner • To raise awareness of are partners in the initiative: bazaar in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan is one of the five countries—Armenia, countries have identified the potential of crop wild the Food and Agriculture countries involved in the Crop Bolivia, Madagascar, Sri the conservation of crop relatives for improving Organization of the United Wild Relatives Project. Lanka and Uzbekistan—the wild relatives as a strategic agricultural production Nations, Botanic Gardens Crop Wild Relatives Project national priority, they have among policy-makers, Conservation International, aims to protect natural had limited resources to conservation managers, the United Nations populations of crop wild invest in conservation plant breeders, Environment Programme relatives while setting a programmes in the past. educators and local World Conservation precedent for conservation users. Monitoring Centre, the that the rest of the world The project has three World Conservation Union, can follow. These countries broad goals: The project outcomes and the Information and contain some of the world’s will provide the basis for Coordination Centre for biodiversity hotspots, areas • To develop national and strategies that could be Biological Diversity (IBV). that are also at greatest risk international information applied in other countries from the loss of diversity. systems on crop wild with significant populations By Annie Lane, relatives that include of crop wild relatives. In this Bioversity International Crop wild relatives are data on species biology, way, these five nations, with essential for adapting crops to changing environmental conditions and human Crops whose wild relatives have been given priority by needs. Nevertheless, many the countries participating in the project natural populations of Armenia Wheat, , , pulses, pear, beet these highly compatible Bolivia Potato, , , , bean, , , , species are increasingly at cacao, cashew, , , palm heart, tree tomato, palmito, blackberry risk due to climate change, Madagascar Rice, banana, , , vanilla For further information, contact over-exploitation and loss Annie Lane, Bioversity of habitat. The five-year Sri Lanka Rice, , black pepper, banana, cinnamon International project, which is funded Uzbekistan , , pistachio, walnut, apple, barley [email protected] by the Global Environment 

Use crop wild relatives or lose them!

Despite the immense Many wild relatives are Limited availability of the use of wild relatives diversity of wild relatives difficult to cross with the germplasm and lack of in breeding. Recent use and their potential to resist crop; even when they can knowledge and research of DNA markers and challenges ranging from be crossed the are often cited as other sequencing has helped to disease to drought, wild offspring may be sterile. reasons why wild species identify genes responsible relatives are little used in Fortunately, special tissue are not used more, but for desirable traits, crop improvement efforts. culture and hybridization none of these explanations dramatically increasing techniques can now be hold water. Since the the precision of selection Using crop relatives used to overcome these 1980s, the number of wild programmes. However, involves crossing the problems in to nurse species accessions in public while techniques for crop with a wild relative the progenies of any cross genebanks worldwide has isolating desirable genes that has the desired through the first critical been increasing. Most have increased greatly character, obtaining the generations of crossing major crops have hundreds, in number, the dramatic hybrid offspring and then and backcrossing. even thousands, of their rate of increase of backcrossing this over wild relatives stored in crossbreeding that has several generations with Yet biological barriers genebanks. Likewise, sometimes been predicted the crop parent to obtain still exist in many crops knowledge and interest in is not yet apparent. One a type with the desired that block crossbreeding wild species have increased important reason for new character. However, in and cause hybrid sterility. substantially since the this could be the limited order to achieve the desired For instance, there are 1970s due to the success availability of resources for product, plant breeders difficulties connected of crop improvement efforts this kind of breeding, which often have to overcome with using wild relatives where wild relatives have is nearly always carried some major problems. of maize caused by been part of the formula. out by publicly funded the number of programmes. Many wild Often the hybrids and generations required to New molecular genetic relatives are subsequent generations reduce the hybrid genome techniques provide great By Kelly Wagner, of offspring continue to via backcrossing to maize. potential for increasing Bioversity International difficult to cross possess undesirable traits with the crop derived from the wild relative. They may have poor production or quality characteristics and perform poorly in agricultural production. Efforts to remove these undesirable characteristics through further backcrossing can slow progress and delay the development of new varieties with the desired traits.

Another major factor that has limited the use of wild relatives has been poor

interspecific crossability. A. Lane/Bioversity International Wild onion, . Crop wild relatives hold immense potential for helping agriculture meet future challenges.  

Wild foods are rich in micronutrients

Most countries plagued are not valued or protected, with micronutrient their availability is shrinking deficiencies rely on as urbanization grows. single-- based interventions, which are The Maasai provide living often expensive and proof of the impact wild unsustainable over the plants can have on health. long term. Wild foods from A group of -herding the forests, many of which pastoralists living in Kenya boast substantial levels of and Tanzania, they have necessary micronutrients, been described as having ranging from A possibly the worst diet in to to , are an the world. The Maasai get alternative solution. upwards of two-thirds of their daily intake The Maasai Policies governing from animal , primarily provide living management and those consuming products S. Mann/ ILRI dealing with food security and meat. The Maasai consume a diet proof of the and poverty alleviation are consumption of wild plants. rich in animal and yet impact wild not often well coordinated. Yet, surprisingly, the Studies have shown that they do not suffer from diet- related health problems or plants can have As a result, people may not Maasai do not suffer the Maasai use plants from diseases associated with high on health be aware of the benefits of from diet-related health a variety of vegetation sites, fat consumption. Researchers the forest foods available to problems or diseases including open and wooded attribute this to the fact that them and thus do not use associated with high fat and closed- they regularly eat wild plants. them to full advantage. And consumption. Researchers canopy forests. because these resources attribute this to their regular The Maasai prepare incorporating wild plants healthful soups with plant into their diets is being Common nutritional deficiencies, the related health extracts. , bark or eroded by increasing problems and the potential role of wild foods parts of stems are added urbanization and the (adapted from the ‘Report of the International Expert Consultation on to improve the taste and to subsequent loss of their Non-Wood Forest Products. Non-wood Forest Products,’ FAO 1995) prevent or treat diseases. knowledge about the uses Nutrient deficiency Related health problems Wild food sources to combat The Maasai also use wild of wild foods. Studies deficiency plants to brew , to of the benefits of wild Protein–energy Reduced growth, susceptibility Energy-rich food, such as nuts, chew as a sort of gum foods used by the Maasai malnutrition to infections, changes in skin, , oil-rich fruit and tubers and and as an ingredient in and others are needed hair and mental ability wild animals such as snails traditional medicines. The to provide the basis for deficiency Impaired vision and immune Forest and , , biochemicals present in promoting their use more function, blindness and death bee larvae and other animal foods the wild plants effectively generally. Only then will in extreme cases remove from the we realize the full benefits Zinc deficiency Slowed growth and Animal-sourced foods, particularly body and reduce its impact of a diet enriched by development, suppressed red meat, along with certain by acting as an antioxidant. foods from the forest. immunity, increased types of nuts, including pine nuts, complications in pregnancy pecans and nuts Unfortunately, the By Kelly Wagner, Iron deficiency Anaemia, weakness and Wild animals, including insects Maasai’s tradition of Bioversity International increased susceptibility to such as the tree ant, mushrooms, disease forest leaves, baobab fruit pulp Folate deficiency Anaemia, neural tube defects Leafy and other vegetables and many fruits For further information, contact Pablo Eyzaguirre, deficiency Increased susceptibility to Forest fruits and leaves Bioversity International disease and impaired iron status [email protected] 

The benefits of foods from the forests

A study of eating habits contaminants. Forest cover communities and, during The role of forests in in north-east Thailand also reduces the impact certain seasonal food people’s lives is not reveals that wild foods of climate change and shortages or emergencies, a new phenomenon. gathered from forests and provides shelter for people such as drought or war, Archaeological studies field margins make up half and useful organisms. Even they become critical for have found that forests of the food intake of rural when local agricultural survival. Forest foods were an integral part of communities during the production is secure, forest provide an alternative to the success of the Mayan rainy season. The study, foods can supplement domesticated crops during civilization. The fruit of which took place in three staple foods and provide seasonal stresses, creating the Mayan breadnut communities, found that essential micronutrients a buffer during periods of tree served as a dietary villagers collect 126 kinds often lacking in the diets of poor crop yields. Food from staple. Breadnut seeds, of forest foods from trees, rural people. forest often which contain protein, ponds and streams. The commands a premium iron, vitamin A and other foods include 49 species Forest resources are over equivalent , could be boiled, of animals, 16 species of essential for local domesticated foods. mashed and eaten as a mushrooms, 6 species of substitute for crops. and 43 species of other vegetables. A better understanding of Forest resources the benefits of forest foods Communities in rural is needed to motivate the are essential Thailand know a great protection of the forests. for local deal about the benefits of Highly nutritious species communities forest foods. Unfortunately must be protected through this knowledge is often sustainable use and overlooked by the policy- conservation practices in makers and scientists these forest ecosystems whose help is needed to and . With the protect the forests, which, current trends towards ironically, are being put deforestation in many at risk by the villagers’ countries, we must ask dependence on them as ourselves what will happen well as by unsustainable to entire communities, logging practices and like those in north-east growing urbanization. Thailand, if we don’t take better care of the forests. From tropical moist forests to mangroves and By Kelly Wagner, dry woodlands, forests Bioversity International provide many benefits to the neighbouring communities. The forests can prevent erosion For further information, contact and filter the flow of fresh Pablo Eyzaguirre, water, reducing the spread Bioversity International of water-borne diseases [email protected] by controlling pests and L. Thomson/Bioversity International A villager in north-east Thailand returns from the forest with a of wild tubers.  

The value of wild relatives It is estimated that between 1976 and 1980 wild relatives contributed A wild tomato has allowed In the 1970s an outbreak sulphoraphane. Wild plant breeders to boost the of grassy stunt virus relatives have also helped approximately level of solids in commercial devastated the rice fields increase the nutritional value US$340 million varieties by 2.4%, an of millions of in of the cultivated tomato by per year in yield increase worth US$250 South and South-. providing more vitamin C and disease million annually to farmers The virus, transmitted by and beta-carotene. resistance to the in California (USA) alone. the brown plant hopper, farm Meanwhile, three different prevents the rice plant from Wheat is the for wild have been producing and grain. approximately one in three of the USA alone used to breed commercial of the world’s population. varieties resistant to root Scientists from the But diets based solely knot nematodes. This International Rice Research on lack important development is helping Institute (IRRI) screened nutrients such as iron, threatened with extinction to save peanut growers more than 17 000 samples zinc and vitamin A. A wild from deforestation, around the world an of cultivated and wild relative of wheat from the habitat loss and intensive estimated US$100 million for resistance to the eastern Mediterranean agriculture. Forests are a year. disease. A wild relative was used to increase the rich in wild plants that may of rice growing in Uttar protein content of be new sources of novel Crop wild relatives make a Pradesh, was found to and durum wheat. The genetic traits for improved huge contribution to plant have a gene for resistance International Maize and crops including coffee, breeding. Wild relatives to the grassy stunt virus. Wheat Improvement Center and rubber. Yet have provided traits such This gene is now routinely (CIMMYT) has shown that during the 1990s, 94 million as disease resistance, incorporated in all new wild relatives of wheat have hectares, or 2.4% of total tolerance of extreme varieties of rice grown up to 1.8 times more zinc forest cover, was lost. temperatures, tolerance of across more than and 1.5 times more iron in salinity and resistance to 100 000 km² of Asian rice their than ordinary Recent experience drought. fields. wheat and could be used shows that using crop to increase levels of these wild relatives to improve Breeders have also used minerals in wheat varieties. production and the wild relatives to boost the nutritional contents nutritional value of foods. By The growing recognition of of crops can improve crossing cultivated broccoli the value of wild relatives in people’s livelihoods and with a wild Sicilian relative, crop improvement comes their health. Taking action scientists are breeding a at a time of increasing now to rescue endangered variety that contains higher concern over the loss of crop wild relatives is the levels of the cancer-fighting these genetic resources. only way to ensure that chemical, sulphoraphane, For example more than this value will continue an antioxidant that one in 20 of the species to be available to future destroys compounds that of , the botanical generations. can damage DNA. The that includes new variety of broccoli crops such as wheat, By Ruth Raymond, contains 100 times more maize, barley and , are Bioversity International

A wild relative of rice provided resistance to grassy stunt virus, a disease that caused devastating losses to farmers across South

A.Lane/Bioversity International and South-East Asia in the 1970s. Sri Lanka. 

Bringing crop relatives to the public

The Sri Lankan Department Agriculture came up with The about the potential role of Agriculture is taking the idea of giving the Department’s of wild relatives in crop advantage of its beautiful public the opportunity to Agriculture improvement. So far, wild setting to bring the story see the new agricultural relatives of pepper, bean, of agriculture—including technologies used on the Information okra, banana and rice have the role played by wild Department’s research and welcomes about been established along relatives—directly to the farming fields. Today, the 30 000 people the banks of the Mahaweli public. Department’s Agriculture each year river. The Department is in Information Park welcomes the process of establishing about 30 000 people a second information park annually. the traditional agriculture in southern Sri Lanka, and leafy which will also feature a Visitors to the park exhibits display Sri Lanka’s section devoted to crop are guided by trained own crop diversity. The wild relatives. agricultural instructors paddy cultivation section through its main features traditional rice The success of the park attractions, which include varieties that are rarely has prompted plans by the fields of vegetables, root cultivated today. Department of National and tuber crops, fruit Botanic Gardens to orchards, a home garden, The Department of establish similar exhibits paddy cultivation fields, Agriculture, which is a throughout the country. traditional farming systems, collaborator in a global And the idea has caught the national genebank and project on crop wild on beyond the crop sector. A. Wijesekara an agriculture museum. relatives, funded by the Using a similar concept, The entrance to Sri Lanka’s Agriculture Information Park. Along the way, colourful Global Environment the Forest Department signboards explain the Facility and implemented has established a Forest The Department of exhibits to visitors. The by the United Nations Education Park at Kande Agriculture is the only genebank tour guide Environment Programme, Ela, in the central hills of government department explains the importance of is using the Agriculture Sri Lanka near Horton whose headquarters crop diversity conservation, Information Park to Plains, a popular national are located outside the while the home garden and increase public awareness park. capital city of Colombo. The Department was first By Anura Wijesekara, established at the Royal Crops Botanic Gardens during Development and the colonial era and it Research Institute, can still be found in an Sri Lanka enchanting environment in the central hills of Sri Lanka along both banks of the Mahaweli, the longest river in the country. For further information, contact Anura Wijesekara, Horticulture Crops Development & Inspired by its attractive Research Institute, Sri Lanka location, Rohan Wijekoon [email protected]

of the Department of A. Wijesekara Visitors to Sri Lanka’s Department of Agriculture Information Park are given a tour through a variety of exhibits including fields of vegetables, home gardens, the national genebank and an agriculture museum.  

Spicy wild relatives get some respect

Cinnamon is big business in the 17th century for the in Sri Lanka, with the same reason. potential to get even bigger if efforts to safeguard Today, cinnamon is the wild relatives of the commercially cultivated in spice succeed. More many countries, including than 100 000 Sri Lankans Brazil, , India, depend on cinnamon Indonesia, Madagascar for their livelihoods. An and Vietnam, as well as on important ingredient in several Caribbean islands. many Sri Lankan dishes, However, the best cinnamon cinnamon earns the nation still comes from Sri Lanka, US$60 million annually. which accounts for about 75% of the world’s supply. Although Sri Lanka’s most important modern The spice is obtained from A. Wijesekara export is tea, cinnamon the cinnamon plant by A cinnamon plantation in Sri Lanka.

Over-exploitation to Sri Lanka lack the Today, an international spice’s characteristic project funded by the by local herbal smell. Cinnamomum Global Environment Facility industries citriodorum has the and implemented by the continues to aroma of grass, United Nations Environment threaten the while C. capparu-coronde Programme (see ‘The Crop survival of smells a bit like camphor Wild Relatives Project’, p. these crop wild mixed with cinnamon. 2) is striving to safeguard While C. citriodorum is these and the other wild relatives not commonly used, relatives of cinnamon to C. capparu-coronde is ensure that they will be a popular medicine for available to provide genes treating a wide range for future crop development. of ailments, including The project brings together toothache, bronchitis and growers, agronomists, rheumatism. researchers and vendors A. Wijesekara in an effort to strike an Bundles of cinnamon sticks ready to be sold at markets in Sri Lanka. Cinnamon earns the nation US$60 million annually. Despite legislation enacted appropriate balance in 1993 to protect wild between conservation and fauna and flora such as use—an important strategy historically held this place drying the central part of C. citriodorum and C. for protecting Sri Lanka’s of honour. The Portuguese the bark, which is then sold capparu-coronde, habitat historical edge in the spice invaded the island in in either stick or powdered destruction and, in the case trade. the 16th century to gain form. of C. capparu-coronde, For further information, contact Anura Wijesekara, Horticulture easy access to lucrative over-exploitation by local By Siril Wijesundara, Crops Development and spices such as cinnamon Interestingly, two of herbal industries continue National Botanic Gardens, Research Institute, Sri Lanka and the Dutch fought the the seven wild relatives to threaten the survival of Sri Lanka [email protected] Portuguese over Sri Lanka of cinnamon endemic these crop wild relatives. 

The importance of wild bananas in Sri Lanka

Local demand Banana has been a favourite mosaic virus and banana for banana is fruit in Sri Lanka from time streak virus. However, the immemorial. The remains once widely distributed wild high, as is the of a wild banana species, species and native potential for Musa balbisiana (locally are beginning to disappear export, making known as ‘ati kehel’), have from Sri Lanka, due to the crop a been found at prehistoric and a priority for cave sites. The finding move away from traditional development indicates that wild bananas farming. Although were enjoyed in Sri Lanka significant banana diversity over 12 000 years ago. is being conserved at the Plant Genetic Resources Many ancient documents, Centre and at other including the great research stations in Sri Singhalese chronicle, Lanka, no conscious effort ‘Mahavanasa’, refer to has been made so far to bananas. Dating back to 341 protect bananas in the wild. CE, ‘Saratha Sangrahaya’, the oldest book of medicine By Gamini Samarasinghe, in Sri Lanka, describes the Plant Genetic Resources medicinal properties of Centre, Sri Lanka various parts of the banana plant.

Today, banana is the most D. Yakandawela important fruit crop in Close-up of a banana , Sri Lanka. Banana is the most important Sri Lanka. Local demand fruit crop in Sri Lanka. for banana is high, as is the potential for export, exhibit female sterility, resistance to a range of making the crop a priority making them very difficult diseases that threaten for development. to breed. But wild types are banana around the world, fertile and produce viable including Panama disease, Two wild species of banana, seeds. The wild accessions Black Sigatoka, banana Colla and held in Sri Lanka’s national mosaic disease, M. balbisiana Colla, grow genebank could thus be bunchy top, in Sri Lanka. The traits used in breeding. The exhibited by Sri Lankan development of new races of cultivated bananas varieties will also make show that most of them are use of somatic : the result of hybridization mutations of body cells between the two wild types. that are not passed on in For further information, contact sexual reproduction. Anura Wijesekara, Horticulture Present-day banana Crops Development and cultivars rarely produce A number of cultivars Research Institute, Sri Lanka seeds because they have and wild species show [email protected] little or no and a variable degree of A.Wijesekara A market stall in Sri Lanka displays the country’s rich banana diversity. Banana is the most important fruit crop in Sri Lanka 10 11

Wild relatives offer new lease on life to an ancient grain

The Armenian highlands The wild of Armenia when they are about to are home to a rich diversity have a high potential for enter their new home for of crop wild relatives. use in improving cultivated the first time. It is believed Some are ancestors of wheat varieties. Some that this will keep the new cultivated varieties; others of the wild species are family productive, affluent cross freely with their drought-resistant, which and fertile. In other words, related cultigens and can is particularly important as an Armenian saying be used in breeding or in Armenia due to the would have it, “there will to study the relationship dry climate and frequent always be bread on the between wild and water shortages. The wild table.” cultivated plants. species Triticum boeoticum The use of Bois is resistant to fungal By Armen Danielian, wild relatives Armenia is a centre of diseases and has high Ministry of Nature to improve origin for cereals. Here, variability, which makes Protection, Armenia Armenian wheat the use of wheat dates it a valuable subject is an important back more than two for research. Triticum millennia. Archaeological araraticum Jakubz could strategy excavations have revealed be used to breed protein- well-preserved granaries rich wheat varieties. and clay vessels filled with a grain identified as The use of wild relatives to Triticum , a wheat improve Armenian wheat species named after the is an important strategy: ancient kingdom of Urartu wheat is absolutely central whose inhabitants were to the country’s culture skilled agriculturists. and customs. Traditionally, It is believed that the the mother of the groom ancestors of T. urartu puts lavash—a type of flat played a role in the bread—on the shoulders origin of wheat varieties of the bride and the groom cultivated today. Another ancient type, known as korkot, is used in modern- A. Danielian day Armenian kitchens. Lavash, traditional Armenian bread. Wheat grains discovered in the storehouses of the ancient Urartu fortress still grow in the Ararat valley. Today, about 13 species and more than 360 varieties of cultivated and wild wheat can be found For further information, contact in Armenia. Three out of Armen Danielian, Ministry of the four known wild wheat

Nature Protection, Armenia species can be found in A. Danielian [email protected] Armenia. Women preparing lavash. 11

Global conference maps out future for wild relatives

Wild per la Frutticoltura (Italy), domesticated from crop wild The conference considered vine found in brought together about 150 relatives in the region, such elements of a global central and scientists, policy-makers, as arnica (which is used in strategy on crop wild southern Europe. private- sector participants homeopathic remedies), relatives. All agreed that the and non-governmental , and development of supportive organizations from 45 sage. These and other policies, in situ conservation, countries. findings are documented in sustainable use of wild PGR Forum’s chief product, relatives and raising public “Crop wild relatives are the Crop Wild Relatives awareness of their value plant species that are Catalogue for Europe and were major areas for action. closely related to cultivated the Mediterranean, which Involving many different crops,” said Jozef Turok, provides easy access to sectors, including farmers, Bioversity International’s information on wild relatives in the further development Regional Director for Europe in Europe. and implementation of the and one of the organizers strategy will be critical, as of the conference. “Their The conference highlighted will be exploring the use closeness means that they the threats to crop wild of a variety of techniques,

L. Udvardy can contribute beneficial relatives worldwide as a such as satellite imagery, heritable traits for pest result of changes in land to produce maps showing Although the wild relatives of or disease resistance or use, such as the growth changes in vegetation crop plants have been used yield improvement to crop of housing developments, patterns, land use and by farmers for millennia and varieties.” large-scale farming and individual species over time. by plant breeders for over a tourism. Climate change century, remarkably, efforts In Europe and the is also an important factor It is no coincidence that to ensure the continued Mediterranean, a start affecting the wild relatives the first conference on wild availability of these valuable has already been made of crop plants. relatives happened in Sicily. resources are very recent. to better assess and The island has 1741 species Addressing a problem—the document the status of Participants described of crop wild relatives, 11% disappearance of wild wild relatives through their experiences in of the total found in Europe. relatives from nature due the three-year European studying and managing Thirty-five of these species mostly to human influence— Union-funded project, PGR wild relatives around the are found only in Sicily. that has been largely Forum, whose findings world. They agreed on ignored over time brings were presented at the the need to identify and The conference Conservationists with it special challenges. conference (see ‘Regional locate wild species with proceedings will be need guidelines The nature of these catalogue supports socio-economic value. published by CAB for maintaining challenges set the context national strategies,’ p.12). Conservationists need International in 2007. wild relatives for the first-ever International For example, two-thirds guidelines for maintaining in their natural Conference on Crop Wild of an estimated 30 000 wild relatives in their By Kelly Wagner, Relative Conservation and plant species in the region natural habitats. Bioversity International habitats Use, held in September are considered useful to 2005 in Sicily, Italy. society. Major crop plants such as , , The Conference, which was apple, annual organized by the University grass and white clover have of Birmingham (UK), IPGRI wild relatives in Europe. For further information, visit (now Bioversity International) Many minor crops have http://www.pgrforum.org and the Istituto Sperimentale also been developed and

The beautiful temples of the Valle dei Templi in Agrigento, Sicily, Italy, formed the backdrop for the first ever conference on crop wild relatives, which took place in September 2005. Parco Archeologico e Paesaggistico della Valle dei Templi dei Valle della Paesaggistico e Archeologico Parco 12 13

Regional catalogue supports national strategies

Researchers Recently, 21 European globally significant the first comprehensive can use the countries worked together diversity of crops such Crop Wild Relatives to catalogue the full as oats, sugar beet, Catalogue for Europe and catalogue range of cultivated and , apple, asparagus, the Mediterranean. to generate wild plants of socio- lettuce, and national economic importance blackberries, as well as Researchers can use the inventories in the European and many , medicinal catalogue to generate Mediterranean regions. and aromatic species. national inventories by downloading a list of crops Europe may not be the A recent - and first region to come to funded project, PGR taxa for their countries. mind when thinking of Forum, brought together Such inventories are crop diversity; after all, partners from across important because they most of the world’s most Europe to assess the provide the baseline data important plant genetic taxonomic and genetic needed for setting priorities resources are to be diversity of European crop and developing long- found in the developing wild relatives and to make term conservation and world. Nevertheless, plans to conserve them. sustainable-use strategies. Europe does have The central product was Ireland, and the UK have already used Once individual country catalogues are established, the catalogue to create Crop names Forestry genus names the sites with the greatest Mansfeld’s database Schultze-Motel, 1966 national inventories; these diversity can be identified. will serve as the basis Here the five sites in the Matching Matching for making decisions on British Isles that contain the greatest overall species Euro+Med Plantbase conservation strategies in genus names diversity are shown with the the three countries. number of priority crop wild Matching Matching relative species present at The catalogue references each site. Medicinal & aromatic Data Mining Ornamental genus names genus names over 24 000 species— MAPROW CPVO around 80% of the total Crop Wild Relative Euro-Mediterranean

PGR Forum Crop and flora. It is available at CWR Catalogue http://cwris.ecpgr.org,

Information System the Web site of the Crop (CWRIS) Wild Relative Information System. This information Country Filter platform contains a wide range of data on both wild

National relatives in Europe and Crop and CWR the Mediterranean and the Catalogue cultivated species to which they are related. The Crop Wild Relatives Catalogue for Europe and the Mediterranean For further information and was created by matching the regional flora (held in the Euro+Med access to PGR Forum reports Plantbase: www.euromed.org.uk) with specialist socio-economic By Nigel Maxted, Shelagh and publications, visit plant databases. Individual country catalogues can be extracted by Kell and Brian Ford-Lloyd, http://www.pgrforum.org filtering the regional database. University of Birmingham 13

Putting diversity back into wheat Wheat is the staple food for a third of the world Researchers are using wild characteristics to the first research programmes. relatives to create wheat wheats planted by farmers. The breeding efforts of varieties containing valuable national programmes, traits that were thought Wheat today comes in the International Maize of wheat’s wild relatives to have been lost forever, two broad categories. and Wheat Improvement with a modern durum watered down by thousands Durum wheat resulted from Center (CIMMYT) and other wheat. Wild relatives may of years of wheat breeding. the crossing of two wild centres continued to build have traits that have been grasses and today is best on the strength of those lost in the domesticated When farmers started known as the wheat used varieties and the valuable crop over thousands of to domesticate wheat for pasta, and traits they exhibited. In fact years of selection thousands of years ago, semolina products. Bread today varieties based on and the last century of they were given a great wheat, a cross between CIMMYT-derived germplasm more intense breeding. head start by nature. durum and another grass, are grown on more than The original primitive is thought to have arisen 60% of wheat fields of the “In places where there’s a wheats were the results about 10 000 years ago, in developing world and in good bit of rainfall, wheats of spontaneous crossings the Caspian area of . much of the developed face diseases such as rust, of wild grasses, the wild world as well. , and spot relatives of wheat. Those Wheat is the staple food blotch, fusarium scab and grasses had been exposed for a third of the world, One result of this selection powdery mildew,” said to cold, drought, heat, providing more and process by farmers and Mujeeb-Kazi. “The wheats waterlogging and all kinds protein in people’s diets breeders has been a we’ve developed show of diseases and pests. The than any other crop. Nine- decline in the inherent genetic resistance to six tenths of the world’s wheat diversity of wheat being or seven diseases at the is bread wheat. The rise of grown in farmers’ fields. same time, plus tolerance wheat as an important food If wheat varieties are of such problems as crop came at a cost to its genetically uniform, the salinity, waterlogging and genetic diversity, especially vulnerability of global wheat drought. This gives them when landraces were production to a devastating a huge advantage in most replaced over large areas new disease or insect pest environments where wheat by fewer varieties. outbreak is high. Increased is grown.” genetic diversity provides The adoption of ‘Green a buffer against such risks CIMMYT began Revolution’ wheats starting and reduces vulnerabilities. incorporating materials from in the 1960s had spectacular wild relatives into its wheat

CIMMYT results, bringing self- CIMMYT recognized this breeding 15 years ago. Three synthetic wheats (right) sufficiency in wheat to India, risk and designed novel The first varieties are now derived from crosses of durum Pakistan, and other breeding strategies to reaching farmers fields, wheat (left) with wild grass countries. The new, semi- put diversity back into but until recently CIMMYT species. dwarf varieties had higher the wheat germplasm could not say quantitatively yields and were resistant it provides to farmers. whether there had been grass species alive today to production-limiting Wheat cytogeneticist Abdul a true impact on genetic resisted those scourges diseases, in particular Mujeeb-Kazi decided to diversity in the seeds. and carried resistance rusts. Farmers grew the recreate the events that For further information, contact in their seeds as part of best-performing varieties resulted in the creation of By examining the DNA of David Mowbray, CIMMYT their genetic heritage. selected by scientists the original bread wheats. the landraces of wheat [email protected] They also brought those from national agricultural Mujeeb-Kazi crossed one grown by farmers before 14 15

modern breeding started had genetic diversity similar wheat’s wild relatives has Today, as a result of the and comparing it with DNA to that in the pre-Green created wheats containing work by Mujeeb-Kazi, there from the most popular Revolution landraces. “The more variation than has are a thousand new wheats modern varieties and study confirms what we ever been available to created from crossing with the newest materials had hoped would happen,” farmers and breeders, different wild relatives with from CIMMYT, a team led said Warburton. “It means possibly since hexaploid (the modern wheats, far more by molecular geneticist that in the future, wheat will complex genetic structure than the original bread wheat Marilyn Warburton was able carry its historic heritage of wheat that arose from that might have originated to confirm the decline in back into farmers’ fields.” the accidental crossing of with just a few plants and a diversity in popular current wild relatives and grasses couple of wild crosses. wheats while at the same “The successful in the distant past) wheat time demonstrating that the incorporation and re-mixing first appeared 10 000 years By David Mowbray, new wheats from CIMMYT of genetic diversity from ago,” the study concluded. CIMMYT

Protecting the wild relatives of walnut

Close to 200 The Persian or common Apparently, this is not far dangers faced by walnut stands of walnut trees, species of walnut (Juglans regia) is fetched. Walnuts are an diversity in the region allowing diversity to native to Central Asia. excellent source of omega- are very real. To protect flourish while establishing Persian walnut This species has been 3 fatty acids and have walnut trees in their native a sustainable approach to grow in Central widely cultivated for many been shown to be helpful in lands, the Crop Wild enriching the livelihoods of Asia thousands of years, but its lowering cholesterol, both Relatives Project, funded people in the region. wild relatives have been of which characteristics by the Global Environment sadly neglected, putting help guard against heart Facility and implemented By E.A. Butkov, them at risk of disappearing. disease. In addition, by the United Nations R.A. Sultanov, G.M. walnuts contain a of Environment Programme, Chernova and L.V. Nikolyai, The story has it that other important , is working with partners Republican Scientific Alexander of minerals, protein and throughout the region to Production Center of ordered the importation antioxidants. Walnuts are set up modern walnut Decorative Horticulture of the Persian walnut to cited as the second richest plantations. If successful, and Forestry, Uzbekistan , ascribing to it the source of antioxidants, next the project should reduce power to protect his soldiers to rose hips, according to the exploitation of natural against disease. Numerous a study by the University of ancient historians, such Minnesota, USA, and the as Arrianos, Teofrast University of Oslo, Norway. For further information, and others, claim that contact Sativaldi Djataev, Alexander’s army was saved Close to 200 species of Institute of Genetics and Plant Experimental Biology, from certain death by the Persian walnut grow in Academy of Sciences, large numbers of walnuts Central Asia. Long prized Republic of Uzbekistan they ingested during his for its beautiful wood, as [email protected] campaign in Turkistan. well as for its fruit, the

Walnuts are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids and can help lower cholesterol. E. Butkov 15

Saving Central Asia’s pistachio diversity

Considered a delicacy since Asia covered approximately “Pistachio plays Amer Ibrahim Basha to the beginning of recorded 2 million hectares, a vital role in assess the amount and time, the pistachio has been compared with only distribution of wild and cultivated for centuries 300 000 hectares today. the nutrition, cultivated pistachio diversity throughout Central Asia, economy and in his native and more where it originated. The loss of wild pistachio culture of many widely in Central Asia using Pistachio nuts are eaten diversity in Central Asia poor countries molecular techniques. This fresh or roasted and are has major implications for in the region” information will help to also used in ice cream and pistachio growers in the — Basha develop effective strategies desserts such as baklava. region and beyond. Most to conserve and make use of the pistachio gene pool of pistachio diversity in the While there is a huge is to be found here, where region. potential for expanding the it is needed to underpin by Bioversity International, commercial production of the continued availability is overseeing the planning “Pistachio plays a vital role pistachio in the region, it of the tasty nut. The wild of ecogeographic surveys in the nutrition, economy has not been well exploited. relatives of pistachio also and germplasm collecting and culture of many poor Today, of the countries in play an important role in missions in Central Asia countries in the region,” the region only Iran holds holding back the region’s to learn more about the said Ibrahim Basha. “This a large market share, at fragile soils. Their loss diversity, distribution and study, and complementary 38% of the world market. further threatens an already uses of pistachio and to work through the Crop The USA has the second threatened environment. strengthen conservation Wild Relatives Project, will largest share of the market efforts. The project’s help the countries make with 28%. As the global Two projects are currently activities in the region the most of their pistachio commercial production of addressing the challenges are being managed by diversity for the benefit of pistachio amounts to 500 facing the pistachio in Bioversity's office in people in the region.” million per year, Central Asia. The Crop Wild Tashkent, Uzbekistan. efforts to create markets for Relative Project, funded By Galina Chernova, pistachio varieties native to by the Global Environment A grant provided by the Republican Scientific other Central Asia countries Facility, implemented by the International Fund for Production Center of could bring major benefits United Nations Environment Agricultural Research will Decorative Horticulture to the region. Programme and coordinated enable pistachio expert and Forestry, Uzbekistan

An important first step is to shore up existing pistachio diversity in the region. For three millennia, L. Nikolyai pistachio trees were used in metallurgy and mining in Central Asia due to their accessibility and the highly For further information, calorific charcoal they contact Sativaldi Djataev, produce. The result was Institute of Genetics and Plant Experimental Biology, a major depopulation of Academy of Sciences, wild pistachio in the region. Pistachio plays an important Republic of Uzbekistan During the Stone Age, role in the culture and culinary [email protected] pistachio trees in Central traditions of Central Asia. 16 17

Ask the old women the search for hardy survivors

Scientists are on a hunt for to understand what they genes in the land where have known intuitively all farming began, searching along—that the traditional “We are for lost genetic resources varieties were special. going back that scientists say will be through time, crucial for the world to keep The scientists are led by backwards feeding itself as climate a Syria-based Australian, change and deteriorating Ken Street, an agricultural through agricultural landscapes ecologist with the human-induced begin to bite. International Center for ” Agricultural Research in the —Street High in the mountains of Dry Areas (ICARDA). The southern Armenia, the team comprises Russian farmer’s tanned, furrowed and Armenian plant face is thoughtful. “You researchers, as well as should ask the old another Australian, Perth- women,” he said after a based Clive Francis from pause. From village to the Centre for in village, others agree. “Ask Mediterranean Agriculture the old women.” They are (CLIMA). Their work is partly

helpful and nostalgic and, funded by the Australian © Brad Collis/Coretext after an obligatory Centre for International Clive Francis, CLIMA, collecting in Armenia, July 2005. or two, melancholy. Agricultural Research (ACIAR), a development enough to stop many food programme, but the ancient The old women emerge agency, and the Grains plants from flowering and wild varieties had hundreds from lightless kitchens Research and Development delivering grains and fruits. of thousands, perhaps and farm buildings and Corporation (GRDC). millions, of parents. the scientists explain their It is the genes that allow quest to find places where The team scours the the old relatives of modern “The world is losing ancestral plants might still birthplace of agriculture, crops to flourish in frozen or irreplaceable seeds. This grow on high plains that the Caucasus—Armenia, arid landscapes that need to is frightening, because the have been overgrazed Azerbaijan, Georgia and be found and reintroduced. genetic origins for a very or mined. The women parts of —for “We are going back through large proportion of the hurry away and with remnant on-farm seed time, backwards through world’s food crops do not extraordinary generosity re- stocks and for the ancestral human-induced evolution,” exist anywhere else. So emerge with tins, jars and wild grasses from which explained Street. “We are we are desperately trying knotted cloth containing modern crops like wheat looking for the grasses that to collect, store, document biological treasures—the and barley were first bred were used for bread-making and manage as much seeds of bygone crops. some 5000 or so years thousands of years ago. diversity from old varieties © Brad Collis/Coretext ago. They are focused on We are searching for what and wild relatives as we Ken Street looking for old crop varieties in the ruins of a long- Grains of wheat, barley, the two or three degree our far-distant ancestors can before they are gone abandoned village in Armenia. beans and disappear increase in average were using, because these forever. It’s a survival issue,” into small yellow temperatures that the globe plants have a wider genetic Street said. For further information, contact envelopes. Some of the old is likely to face due to base. A modern wheat plant Ken Street, ICARDA women cry, because these global warming. A fraction might have a few hundred By Brad Collis, [email protected] visiting scientists seem of a degree change can be parents from a breeding Coretext Pty Ltd 17

Tapping the potential of medicinal and aromatic plants in northern Europe

In northern Europe, system, decreasing Follow-up to the project biodiversity programmes depression, enhancing will involve additional are looking to wild species work performance and collecting and evaluation as a new source of eliminating fatigue. of the promising plants, as commercial products and, well as the development of in so doing, are creating an A four-year project methods for commercial economic motive for their to identify potential production in order to conservation. commercial uses of wild ensure against over- plants in the Nordic and harvesting from the wild The inhabitants of Nordic Balkan countries wound populations of vulnerable and Baltic countries once up in 2005. The project, species. valued their ancestors’ funded by the Nordic expertise in using wild Gene Bank, investigated By Kelly Wagner, plants. The knowledge eight wild species with Bioversity International arising from this expertise market prospects. These was passed down over included wild thyme, many generations, shrubby St. John’s , allowing the continued sweet flag root and wild use of oregano. The plants were in accordance with old collected and deposited traditions. However, in national collections growing urbanization in for conservation and the region and the lack of further study. In addition, supportive policies and the project catalogued technical support has over 130 wild plants with led to a dramatic decline medicinal and aromatic in the use of traditional uses, some of which medicines, putting the wild are under threat in the plants at risk. region due to changing agricultural practices, One sure way to convince habitat loss, over- decision-makers of exploitation and other the importance of factors. It would not be conserving wild plants good business to let these is to demonstrate their species disappear before economic potential. their market potential can Creating a commercial be realized. value for the plants is a great incentive to keep them safe. Norway and Creating a had already had commercial some experience of this with the commercial value for the For further information, contact plants is a great Åsmund Asdal, Norwegian production of roseroot, Å. Asdal Crop Research Institute a wild plant used to incentive to Roseroot, a wild plant used to combat depression, has gone into [email protected] stimulate the nervous keep them safe commercial production in Norway and Finland. 18 19

Climate change threatens wild relatives with extinction

As global temperatures Institute (IRRI) estimated size of populations will Climate change continue to rise, crop wild the current and future diminish by as much is making major relatives are threatened with geographical distribution of as 75%, indicating extinction at the very time the wild relatives of three greater fragmentation new demands on they are needed the most. of the world’s important of populations and crop diversity food crops—potato, peanut reduced viability for Climate change is making and cowpea—based on 19 survival. Moreover, habitat major new demands on climate variables. The results fragmentation will create crop diversity as well as show that within the next spatial barriers to species of genes for , creating new opportunities 50 years climate change is migration, effectively often growing off the for using diversity to mitigate likely to dramatically affect isolating populations and beaten track in already its adverse impacts on all three crops. Strikingly, narrowing genetic diversity. challenged environments. agricultural systems. Crop the study predicts that by The selection of in situ 2055, 18–25% of all potato, The findings demonstrate conservation areas for crop peanut and cowpea species that climate change will wild relatives and species- could become extinct and drive many wild relatives of specific management that most species could lose important crops to extinction strategies need to factor over 50% of the land area through habitat reduction in climate change as that is currently suited to and fragmentation, without a significant driver of them. even considering other species distribution and continuing drivers of habitat conservation status. Wild peanuts are predicted loss such as deforestation Climate modellers, to be the hardest hit, with and over-exploitation. The plant breeders and as many as 31 of the 51 wild relatives of peanut, conservationists also wild species studied likely potato and cowpea have need to work together to to become extinct and already proven to be identify vulnerable areas the distribution area of the important sources of genes and species, evaluate the remainder to be reduced by for improving agricultural species that are important more than 90%. In addition, production. For example, to crop improvement and up to 13 of 107 wild wild relatives of the potato develop integrated climate- species of potato studied have provided resistance change conservation

A. Lane/Bioversity International could become extinct by to late blight, Colorado and breeding strategies. A vegetable stall in Cochabamba, Bolivia, boasts a striking 2055, with the potential potato beetle and various Threatened species will display of potato diversity. A recent study by IRRI and Bioversity distribution area of the viruses, and wild relatives of require targeted monitoring International estimates that up to 13 of 107 wild species of potato remaining species reduced cultivated peanut have been and conservation measures being studied could become extinct by 2055. by over 70%. Up to three used to breed resistance to in order to ensure their of 48 species of cowpea root-knot nematode. survival in the face of wild relatives can help adapt are likely to disappear, and climate change. The more cultivated crops to changing the distribution area could Unfortunately, it is rare for threatened species will climactic conditions, but be reduced by 65%, with crop wild relatives to be require targeted ex situ their very survival has been 41 out of 48 species losing targeted for conservation conservation interventions. placed in jeopardy by more than 50% of their actions. Equally rare is their

For further information, contact climate change. A study current ranges. use in adapting modern By Annie Lane and Annie Lane, conducted by Bioversity crops to the impacts of Andy Jarvis, Bioversity Bioversity International International and the The study also estimates climate change, although International, and Robert [email protected] International Rice Research that the average patch they are a promising source Hijmans, IRRI 19

Wild potato relative may blunt late blight

Late blight, the disease to research by the United that laid waste to Ireland’s States Department of potato fields in the 1840s, Agriculture’s Agricultural continues to cut a deadly Research Service (USDA– swath through agriculture ARS). Scientists at USDA– over a century and a half ARS are developing hardy, later. But tomorrow’s highly productive potato tubers may have protection plants that not only produce against this disease, thanks top-quality potatoes but also shrug off attack by the -like microbe that causes late blight. The disease costs about US$400 million in losses each year in the USA alone.

The assault on the resilient L. Cooke/ Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute microbe started when a Leaves of a potato plant in Northern Ireland infested with blight, the USDA–ARS team at the deadly disease that laid waste to Ireland’s potato fields in the 1840s. Western Regional Research Center in Albany, California, identified and isolated domesticated potatoes to Late blight the gene in Solanum test the effectiveness of causes losses of bulbocastanum—a wild the gene in countering late relative of the potato blight. about US$400 originating in Mexico—that million each year could be introduced directly When grown out in plant in the USA alone into potatoes to work in pathologist Kenneth L. concert with other genes to Deahl’s greenhouse, the test fend off late blight. plants from Albany showed resistance to the disease. This discovery grew from Additional tests will reveal research over the past how well the potatoes decade by plant physiologist perform outdoors when John P. Helgeson, formerly exposed to the microbe. with USDA–ARS in Madison, These field experiments Wisconsin. He fused S. should bring scientists a bulbocastanum with the step closer to determining

V. Heywood V. familiar domesticated whether genes from a wild, Antonio Rivera Pena, researcher in Mexico, examines a wild potato, creating unique south-of-the-border potato potato. Researchers have identified and isolated a gene in a wild hybrids. Then, scientists can protect its northern potato that could confer resistance to late blight. from USDA–ARS worked cousins from being battered to isolate and clone the by late blight. resistance gene from the For further information, visit crop wild relative. They By Marcia Wood, www.nps.ars.usda.gov transferred the gene into USDA–ARS 20 21

On the rocks

While much attention scattered and difficult to reach except to goats or permission!) on the way. is given to the benefits measure or study. the most intrepid plant Under such circumstances to be obtained from the collectors, who may have when there are only a use of crop wild relatives The close relatives of the to seek recourse to long- few isolated plants on in breeding, it is worth widely cultivated vegetables arm pruners (not the most the cliffs, any attempt sparing a thought for the such as , convenient contraption to to undertake a proper problems of collecting cauliflower, kohlrabi and carry with one in the field), sampling of the population these plants from the wild. Brussels sprouts that are or even to throwing stones as recommended in derived from at the plant in the hope of the manuals becomes Crop wild relatives occupy oleracea L. are bushy wild dislodging some branches irrelevant. Some seed in the a very wide range of native to the with fruits. bag is better than none. habitats throughout the Atlantic coast of Europe, the world, some of which and During a recent trip to By Vernon Heywood, Sicily, Professor Cesar University of Reading Gómez-Campo from the Polytechnic University of Madrid, , and Professor Vernon Heywood of the University of The plants Reading, UK, sought out that grow on seeds of Brassica villosa. rock faces or To reach the vertical rock cliffs often faces where the plants were have a highly growing, they had to climb up the side of the cliffs from specialized shore level, passing through ecology and the living room of a farm may even be cottage (with the owner’s niche-specific V. Heywood V. Cliffs in Trapani, western Sicily, Italy, home to various species of brassica wild relatives.

pose serious difficulties the . These for the plant collector. form a group of wild taxa, Some grow in inaccessible including some that are rocky habitats. The plants narrow endemics restricted that grow on rock faces to cliff habitats in several or cliffs often have a Mediterranean islands, highly specialized ecology including Corsica, , and may even be niche- Sicily, and Cyprus. specific—they will grow For further information, only on overhangs or on Sometimes the plants are contact Vernon Heywood, vertical faces, for example. within reach (or nearly Heywood V. University of Reading As a consequence, their so) but all too often they Professor Cesar Gomez Campo collecting seed of Brassica villosa [email protected] populations are very grow on cliffs well out of growing on rocks in Trapani. 21

Spreading the word about wild relatives

The extensive loss of relatives get the respect desirable back-up to in situ It was not until agrobiodiversity and they deserve. conservation, can be tricky the 1990s that the threat that it poses because the wild relatives the in situ to human well-being is It is not known how many tend to contain fewer a global problem that wild relatives of crop seeds than their cultivated conservation of requires a global solution. plants exist around the counterparts. Only about wild relatives Important initiatives have world, but in Europe and 5% of the crop diversity began to be been launched to stem the Mediterranean region conserved in European and taken seriously the haemorrhage of crop more than 20 000 out of an CGIAR genebanks is from diversity, including action estimated 30 000 species by the Convention on are considered crop wild Biological Diversity, the relatives. Many of these are Food and Agriculture related to major European Organization of the crops such as oats, sugar United Nations and the beet and apple. Numerous centres supported by the minor crops such as Consultative Group on asparagus, lettuce and International Agricultural sage have wild relatives in Research (CGIAR). the region as well.

According to Ehsan Examples of wild relatives at risk Dulloo, senior scientist at Crop Situation Bioversity International and co-chair of the expert Tomato Across , populations of wild group, “They may look tomato are being severely reduced due to goat herding in the highlands and habitat loss. scruffy and worthless, but wild relatives are a Coffee A wild species of coffee that once grew in Côte goldmine of genes for d’Ivoire is known to be extinct. Ten others are R. Khalil /Bioversity International helping farmers to combat either endangered or vulnerable in the wild. Pistachio’s broad genetic base is being lost as a few high-yielding challenges such as pests Pistachio Pistachio’s broad genetic base is being lost commercial types replace ancient varieties, and human activity as a few high-yielding commercial types and diseases, climate destroys wild species. replace ancient varieties and human activity change, water stress and destroys wild species. salinity.” crop wild relatives; the their conservation. Although agricultural rest is from domesticated Dulloo believes that the But crop wild relatives, scientists identified crops. future of wild relatives although they have an crop wild relatives as a is safe in the hands of important role to play in conservation target over One of the first actions the group. “The Crop crop improvement, tend 30 years ago, it was not of the specialist group, Wild Relatives Specialist For further information, contact to fall between the cracks until the 1990s that the in currently in its formative Group will become the the co-chairs of the specialist of such conservation situ conservation of wild days, will be to establish global authority on the group: Ehsan Dulloo, initiatives. Now, a group of relatives began to be taken a global database on crop conservation of wild Bioversity International [email protected] specialists have banded seriously. wild relatives. The group relatives,” he said. and Nigel Maxted, together, with support from plans a major effort to University of Birmingham the World Conservation Ex situ conservation of raise the profile of wild By Kelly Wagner, [email protected] Union, to ensure that wild wild relatives, while a relatives and stimulate Bioversity International 22 23

Wild relatives could help boost berry market

Wild relatives provide Difficulties often arise a valuable source of when breeding cultivated variation that can be crops with their wild used to improve the relatives due to crossability quality of many cultivated barriers between species. In the past, wild species. Fortunately, The introduction relatives have been used pepino crosses easily to improve the flavour of with two wild species of pepino as tomatoes, the disease that are its accepted a new fruit resistance of potatoes and ancestors, S. caripense on European the drought tolerance of and S. tabanoense. These markets has . Now, studies species are harvested and potential for are being conducted to eaten by rural people in increasing the see if wild relatives can the Andean region and boost the marketability have high acidity and incomes of poor of pepino (Solanum mass. Although the wild farmers in muricatum). species have smaller America fruit, this undesirable trait Golden yellow or purplish can be reduced in a few green and covered with backcrossing generations. darker stripes, the pepino J. Prohens is a juicy, mildly sweet and Researchers are looking to wild The Institute for aromatic berry that is also relatives of pepino for ways to Conservation and increase the fruit’s sweetness. referred to as pepino melon Improvement of or melon pear. The fruit is Agrobiodiversity of native to the temperate Valencia, Spain, has been Andean region that includes high temperature during doing research on pepino , Colombia, Ecuador ripening reduces the improvement. Recent and Peru. Today, it is grown sugar content, making progress indicates that commercially in Chile, the fruit less sweet. On the two wild species are and Western the other hand, when the promising sources of . The introduction crop grows in a cooler variation for improving of pepino as a new fruit environment, the soluble pepino fruit quality. If on European markets has solids concentration market access can be potential for increasing the levels—sugar and organic assured, Europeans may incomes of poor farmers acid content in fruit— soon grow accustomed in . However, increase, although they to seeing purple striped existing pepino varieties are still are normally too low to yellow berries alongside not sweet enough and do meet European consumer the familiar blue, black and not have enough solid mass demands. red ones at their local fruit to be marketed in Europe in stands. For further information, visit their present state. Now, research is the Web site of the Institute for Conservation and Improvement underway to improve the By Kelly Wagner, of Agrobiodiversity of Valencia, Environmental conditions sweetness of pepinos by Bioversity International Spain, at http://www.comav. influence the fruit quality crossbreeding them with upv.es/index2.html of pepino. For example, their wild relatives. 23

Groundnut relatives hit the spot

For years, groundnut fields 96% of the land planted Now, the International wild peanut varieties— have been laid waste to groundnut and for 92% Crops Research Institute Arachis stenosperma, A. by devastating fungal of global production. for the Semi-Arid Tropics kempff-mercadoi, A. diogoi diseases. Now, thanks to Clearly, coming to grips (ICRISAT) is developing and A. cardenasii—yielded the wild relatives of the with leaf spot could have groundnuts with resistance progeny with resistance to groundnut, farmers around major implications for to the two dread diseases. late leaf spot. Thanks to its the world can breathe the livelihoods of poor Fortunately, many wild nutty relatives, it looks like easier. countries. relatives of groundnut are groundnut is here to stay. good sources of resistance A few spots on the leaves Early leaf spot is caused to both leaf spot diseases. By N. Mallikarjuna, of the groundnut plant by the fungus By crossing wild groundnut ICRISAT are enough to strike fear arachidicola. Reports with the cultivated type, into the hearts of farmers indicate that yield losses ICRISAT scientists have around the world. Two due to this pathogen can already managed to fungal diseases—early leaf be as high as 50%. Late produce resistant types. spot and late leaf spot— leaf spot is caused by can seriously damage the Phaeoisariopsis personata, Given the dynamic and plant and have a major which has caused ever-evolving character impact on crop yields. economic losses totalling of diseases, ICRISAT US$599 million in the scientists are constantly on Groundnut is the groundnut growing areas the hunt for new sources thirteenth most important of the world, including of resistance to leaf spot. food crop in the world, Asia and Africa. Recently, crosses of four the fourth most important source of edible oil and the third most important source of vegetable protein. It is grown on 26.4 million hectares worldwide with a total production of 36.1 million tonnes. Developing countries account for

A few spots on the leaves of the groundnut plant are enough to strike fear into

For further information, contact the hearts of N. Mallikarjuna, ICRISAT farmers around [email protected] the world ICRISAT Arachis diogoi, a wild relative of groundnut. 24 25

Glossary

Agrobiodiversity: The Genebank: A facility where the proper growth and elements of biodiversity— crop diversity is stored metabolism of a living including plants, animals in the form of seeds, organism. and micro-organisms—that pollen, in vitro culture or benefit people. DNA or in the case of a Taxon: A group or field genebank as plants category, at any level, in Biodiversity: The total growing in the field. a system for classifying variability within and Genebanks can also be plants, animals or other among species of all used to store the genetic organisms. living organisms and their resources of animals, habitats. microbes and other GEF: A joint programme elements of agricultural between the United Climate change: A biodiversity. Nations Development change in climate that can Programme, the World be directly or indirectly Genetic diversity: The Bank and the United attributed to human activity present in Nations Environment and that is in addition to a population or species. Programme, the Global natural climate variability Environment Facility over comparable time Genetic resources: was established in 1991 periods. Genetic material of to provide funds for plants, animals and other environmental problems. Cultigen: Cultivated plant, organisms that is of value UNEP is the administrator such as the banana, not for present and future of grants relating to known to have a wild or generations of people. agricultural biodiversity. uncultivated counterpart. Genotype: 1. The Wild relative: A non- CGIAR: The Consultative genetic constitution of cultivated species that is Group on International an organism. 2. A group more or less closely related Agricultural Research, of organisms with similar to a crop species (usually a strategic alliance of genetic constitutions. in the same genus). countries, international and regional organizations Germplasm: A set of and private foundations genotypes that can be supporting 15 international conserved or used. agricultural research centres. In situ conservation: : Land Conservation of plants, degradation in arid, semi- animals or other organisms arid and dry subhumid in the areas where they areas resulting from developed their distinctive various factors including properties, i.e. in the wild climatic variability and or in farmer’s fields. human actions. Landrace: Farmer- : An ecological developed variety of a system formed by the crop plant or domesticated interaction of a community animal that is adapted of organisms with its to local environmental physical environment. conditions.

Ex situ conservation: Micronutrient: A dietary Conservation of a plant element, such as a vitamin outside of its original or or , that is required natural habitat. in minute amounts for 25

Our organization has a new name: Bioversity International (Bioversity for short)

We didn’t change our name simply for the of change. Our organization has evolved over the years and the old name, the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, respected as it was, no longer adequately reflected the work we do.

We are a research organization dedicated to conserving and using biodiversity, but the scope of our work extends far beyond plant genetic resources. We are working with our research collaborators to conserve all types of biodiversity, including animal, aquatic and even microbial genetic resources.

What’s more, our research is about much more than genetic resources and genetics. It’s about people. People are at the centre of everything we do.

We don’t measure our success by calculating the number of varieties and species conserved in genebanks. It is measured in the tangible benefits our research brings to the people of the world, especially those living in poverty and hunger in developing countries. We are committed to working with an international network of partners to conserve and harness biodiversity to secure dignified and sustainable livelihoods for the poor, provide better nutrition to the undernourished and protect threatened ecosystems.

So to better reflect the scope and nature of our work we chose a new name, Bioversity International.

In fact, more than selecting a new name, we have coined a whole new word. We believe ‘Bioversity’ evokes a constellation of ideas that unites biodiversity with other concepts that are central to our work. The name suggests ‘universe’ and ‘universality’, which evoke the immensity of the natural world and our belief in the value of working together for common good of humanity. Also, our new name conjures up the idea of a university. Like a university, we are a ‘collegial’ organization, one that derives it strength from collaborative activities among many different types of groups with expertise in many different disciplines and with research as an important component.

Although you will often see the organization referred to simply as Bioversity, we have retained ‘International’ as part of our official name. This is not simply because our research activities are carried out all over the world and our members, donors and research partners come from many countries, but because we are committed to ensuring that our research contributes to international efforts to establish effective policies and plans of action for the conservation and sustainable use of agricultural biodiversity.

We would like to welcome you to the world of Bioversity International. Bioversity International Via dei Tre Denari, 472/a 00057 Maccarese Rome, Italy Tel: +39 06 6118 1 Fax: +39 06 61979661 Email: [email protected] Web: www.bioversityinternational.org

IPGRI and INIBAP operate under the name Bioversity International.

Supported by the CGIAR.