Genetic resources exploitation in wheat breeding and improvement at the IFVCNS

Abstract

Modern agriculture depends on improved forms of crop plants, created by breeders from germplasm which provides the genetic information needed to increase yield and quality and add resistance to pests, diseases and adverse environmental factors. Genetic resources are maintained and evaluated in collections located worldwide and supported by national and international public funds. Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad (IFVCNS) has its own collection of wheat genotypes that comprises around 2800 accessions originating from more than 30 countries, as well as 65 wheat ancestors and related species. For the maintenance purpose each year one third of the collection is sown and evaluated for some important characters, enabling us to refresh the seeds of the entire collection in three years. According to the evaluation results the genetic (core) collection with more than 850 entries is extracted from the world collection. From this collection the material for different projects and experiments was chosen and according to their objectives it was extensively evaluated for different agronomical, morphological, physiological and other traits in field and controlled conditions. It was also used for molecular diversity studies, association panels, and genomewide association analyses. One of our international projects is dedicated to redesigning the exploitation of small grains genetic resources towards increased sustainability of grain-value chain (FAO project PR-166 - GRAINEFIT). The project addresses some of FAO sustainability goals, such as to end poverty, achieve food security and improved nutrition, promote sustainable agriculture, combat climate change and its impacts, halt biodiversity loss, promote inclusive societies and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.