A proposal for genebank metrics to enhance collection management
Abstract Genebanks worldwide play a crucial role in the long-term conservation and accessibility of wide diversity of plant genetic resources (PGR). These resources are essential for addressing current and future challenges related to climate change and biodiversity loss, thereby contributing to agricultural production and sustainability. Enhancing the efficiency of genebanks requires implementing a quality management system that ensures data transparency, as well as the documentation and standardization of processes. This study proposes a set of 10 mandatory and 38 optional genebank metrics specifically designed for collections of orthodox seeds. These metrics define a set of basic parameters that are easy to calculate and collectively serve as a valuable tool for improving genebank management, enhancing performance, fostering transparency and promoting collaborations among institutions. Fourteen institutions engaged in the long-term conservation of PGR were consulted in the development of the proposed metrics. This work lays the foundation for the establishment of a widely accepted set of genebank metrics within the global genebank community. Further research and iterative development are necessary to formulate comprehensive metrics applicable to other ex situ conservation methods (such as cryopreservation, in vitro and field conservation) as well as in situ conservation strategies (including genetic reserves and on-farm conservation).
Authors
- Noam Chayut (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2695-5521)
- Matija Obreza
- Béla Bartha (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9644-8066)
- Graziano Rossi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5102-5019)
- T.J.L. van Hintum (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4953-4700)
- Filippo Guzzon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5305-2259)
- Stéphan Weise (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4031-9131)
- Erik Wijnker
- László Horváth (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5714-1662)
- Markus Oppermann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3370-3218)
- Maarten van Zonneveld (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7875-4756)
- Johan Axelsson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4465-9777)
- Alvina Avagyan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5499-7967)
- Lise Lykke Steffensen
- V. Holubec (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8113-0111)
- Fábio Ferrari (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9339-0911)
- Attila Simon
- Renata Kowalik
- Maja Boczkowka
- Fadia Chairi
- Claudio Niggli
- Sylvia Vogl
- Lisa Achathaler
- Ludmilla Papouskova
Institutions
- John Innes Centre (GB)
- World Vegetable Center (TW)
- University of Bonn (DE)
- Alliance Bioversity International - CIAT (IT)
- University of Pavia (IT)
- Walloon Agricultural Research Centre (BE)
- Bioversity International (CO)
- Genetic Resources Center (JP)
- Leibniz-Institut für Pflanzengenetik und Kulturpflanzenforschung (IPK) (DE)
- St. Claraspital (CH)
- Federal Scientific Center for Vegetable Growing (RU)
- Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute - National Research Institute (PL)
- Agrifood Research Finland (FI)
- Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AT)
- Global Crop Diversity Trust
- Wageningen University & Research (NL)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Plant Genetic Resources
- Published
- 2025-08-29
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1017/s147926212510021x
- Citations
- 3
- Primary Topic
- Plant tissue culture and regeneration
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.42
Funders
- European Commission
- Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft
- Crop Trust