Research, conservation and utilisation of plant genetic resources and agro-biodiversity enhancement - Contribution of the Research Institute of Crop Production Prague-Ruzyně

Activities on plant genetic resources in the Czech Republic are concentrated in the National Programme on Conservation and Utilisation of Plant Genetic Resources. Eleven institutions maintain 51,000 accessions, of which 17.3% belong to vegetatively propagated species. Research Institute of Crop Production (RICP) Prague has the responsibility for the coordination of the Programme; it holds more than half of all accessions in collections of genetic resources, runs the national information system and provides long-term storage for all seed-propagated species. All Czech collections are fully documented in passport data. Evaluation data (based on National descriptor lists for 29 crops) are available for 33% of the accessions. Much work is currently spent to the description and evaluation of collections, to facilitate their utilisation in breeding and agricultural practice. Also collecting missions on the Czech territory, conservation and monitoring of valuable resources maintained in situ contributeto the maintenance and evaluation of local resources. Landraces are considered a valuable part of the collections. Suitable ways of "on farm" conservation are investigated for selected accessions, to support their utilisation in agricultural practice and to enrich the existing diversity of crops and cultivars. Cultivars and landraces of neglected crops (buckwheat, millet, hulled wheat species) were successfully used to enrich the agro-biodiversity and for specific purposes of human nutrition. Close collaboration with producers (often organic farms) and processing industry has been established. Selected alternative crops and catch crops were studied as potential new crops.