Brazilian Soybean Base Collection- Monitoring

摘要

Gene banks (ex situ collection of plant genetic resources) are the repositories of dwindling genetic variability of cultivated plants. Such collections are maintained as a resource for continued progress in plant breeding. The Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology with the Embrapa Soybean are working toward increasing and maintaining the genetic variability of soybean through he introduction of germplasm to support its breeding program. Presently, the Soybean Base Collection (Glycine max) has around 4,630 accessions from different countries. This collection is maintained and conserved in chambers of the Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, at -18℃, without humidity control, in aluminum foil bags hermetically closed. The seeds are previously dried at 6% to 7%. High germination rate (80%) and more than 1,500 seeds for the accessions are required for long -term conservation. Germination tests are performed at the beginning of the storage and monitoring tests are done periodically. All information regarding the accessions is being monitored by the Brazilian Genetic Resources Information System (SIBRARGEN). After twenty-two years of storage the results of germination tests applied to 394 soybean accessions indicated that germination does not decrease significantly when the initial germination rate is above 80%.