Plant Genetic Resources
Spinach nearly disappeared from the supermarket shelves when a plant disease that causes leaf spots hindered production. Breeders used genes of a wild variety from Uzbekistan and Tadzhikistan to develop an improved spinach variety. The genebank for plant genetic resources collected the material and is now safeguarding it for the future.
Genetic variation in agricultural and horticultural crops is the foundation for our food
CGN manages the genebank for plant genetic resources which stores almost 24,000 varieties and wild populations. It ranges from commercial varieties, landraces and farmer varieties to wild varieties of crops from over 150 countries. Breeders can use the genebank to develop crops that are, for instance, resistant to certain diseases or pests or less susceptible to climate change.
Managing a genebank is one of the ways that CGN contributes to the conservation and application of plant genetic diversity in an international context. This work involves European partnerships as well as worldwide cooperation within the Global Crop Diversity Trust.
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Genebank for plant resources
The genebank for plant genetic resources consists of almost 24,000 varieties and wild populations (accessions) of more than 30 different crops. The collections include commercial varieties, landraces, farmer varieties and wild varieties of crops from over 150 countries. With around 2,500 different accessions, we have the world’s largest lettuce collection. CGN manages the genebank on behalf of the Dutch government.
Expertise and advice on plant resources
Genetic diversity is essential if we are to future-proof agriculture and horticulture. Crops need new properties in order to adapt to climate change, be resistant to diseases and pests, and meet consumer demands.
CGN collecting missions
Through these pages, we publish the information that we have on the collecting missions in which CGN participated. All available mission reports, collecting forms and background information have been digitised.
What we can do for you
Requesting seed material
You can search and request genebank material. CGN aims to make the genebank collections completely accessible to all professional users. We are constantly broadening the diversity of the genebank by including new material, with the collections being described and documented in detail.
Partnerships
Since its establishment in 1985, CGN has worked closely with breeding companies to build up its collections. Breeders supply material and support conservation by expanding the collections, helping us increase our related knowledge. Contact us to find out more.