Possibilities and reality of on-farm conservation

• Published in: Czech Journal of Genetics and Plant Breeding Vol. 46; no. Special Issue; pp. S60 - S64
• Main Authors: Holubec, V, Vymyslicky, T, Paprštein, F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Prague Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) 01-01-2010; Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences
• Subjects: agroecosystems; Conservation; conservation areas; crops; Cultivars; Farms; Gene banks; germplasm; germplasm conservation; heirloom varieties; in situ; landraces; methodology; Museums; National parks; Nature conservation; new methods; on-farm; on-farm conservation; open-air museums; plant genetic resources; wild relatives; Czech Republic
• ISSN: 1212-1975; 1212-1975; 1805-9325
• DOI: 10.17221/2670-cjgpb

Conservation of crops is based on ex situ collection into gene banks. Additionally, crop's wild relatives can be conserved in situ, and landraces and obsolete cultivars also can be conserved using the on-farm method. The definition and methodology of on-farm conservation is discussed. On-farm conservation has been set up in the Czech Republic as model examples in several institutions dealing with nature protection, education, cultural conservation, as well as by some private farmers. Problems, plus positive and negative experiences are presented. On-farm conservation in open-air-museums in the natur (skansens) as well as in the national parks, seem to be suitable ways forward for the Czech Republic.