Genetic Diversity In Agriculture :: essays research papers

Genetic variation is the raw material for the plant breeder, who mustoften select from primitive and wild plants, including wild species, in lookupof new genes. The appearance of new diseases, new pests, or new virulent formsof disease causing organisms makes it imperative that the plant be retaind,because it offers a potential for the posture of disease resistant genes notpresent in cultivated varieties. Also, there are demands for new characters--for example, high protein, improved nutritional factors, and fertilityrestoration. As a outcome, plant breeders require a large and diverse gene poolto meet ever changing needs.A gene bank is a best-selling(predicate) term that is used to describe repositories forgenes of living organisms. It is commonly used in the context of plant breedingas I described above, only when it besides applies to the freezing and the storage ofanimal sperm and embryos for use in animal husbandry or artificial insemination.An understanding of crop origi ns and variations is necessary in assemble genetic diversity in plant crops. In certain geographical areasthere has existed a rich source of variability in crop plants but theencroachment of civilization has reduced the natural variability inherent inprimitive plant forms and related species of crop plants. Agricultural process,as a result of new breeding programs, has reduced rather than increased cropvariability as improved cultivars, or varieties, are planted in wider and widerareas and old cultivars, which may contain valuable genes, are lost. make forfailures, which result in a smaller gene pool, have led to an increasedawareness of the need to preserve genetic diversity in plants. Efforts areunder way to increase collections of plant materials in various forms. Usuallythese are preserved as seeds, but living plants, pollen, and cell cultures arealso used. In most gene banks, seeds are usually preserved under conditions oflow temperature and humidity. These collections must be periodically renewed bygrowing the plants and producing new seeds. Increasing emphasis is also beingplaced on preserving living collections of asexually propagated crops such asspecies of fruits and nuts.In the united states, germ plasm banks are handled in a state-federalcooperative program. multinationally, a consortium of international, government,and private organizations called the consultative group in in InternationalAgricultural research, (established in 1974), the International Board for PlantGenetic Resources (IBPGR) to promote the activities of international plantresearch centers that collect and preserve plant germ plasm.Crop improvement is continuous. Professional plant breeders areconstantly working, through genetics, on the improvement of plants to meetchanging needs and standards. For example, with the introduction of mechanical