Digital genebank for improving ex situ collections' management

Digital genebank for improving ex situ collections’ management Nikolaya Velcheva1, Asya Stoyanova-Doycheva2 1 Agricultural Academy, Institute of Plant Genetic Resources “K. Malkov”, Sadovo, Bulgaria 2 Plovdiv University “Paisii Hilendarski”, Department of Computer Systems, Plovdiv, Bulgaria e-mail: [email protected] Key words: plant biodiversity, conservation, information system, genebank quality standard. Abstract Each country is responsible for preserving its gene pool as a national treasure – a resource with biological and economical value, initial material for the creation of varieties that meet the requirements of current and future generations. The National Genebank, located in Sadovo is the main center for the long-term seed conservation of Bulgaria and as such is an active partner in the international system for the preservation of plant biodiversity. The Institute has been nominated by the European Program on Plant Genetic Resources (ECPGR) as a responsible national research organization for participation in the European Electronic Catalogue (EURISCO) and in the construction of the virtual European Genebank (AEGIS). The study focuses on the development and implementation of innovative technologies for the management of the process of seed storage and monitoring in the genebank. The intelligent search in ontologies improves access to information about the conserved accessions. The results increase the functionality and security of the management system, which have significant scientific and public contribution. The innovation approach ensures better control and more efficient use of resources, which is essential for the conservation of biological diversity, the utilization of the gene pool and the sustainable development of agriculture in the face of climate change. The digital genebank creates the open access to collections, free used by the scientific community, breeding companies and all other users. The study supports the establishment of the quality standard for ex situ storage and the development of professional capacity, in accordance with the Operational Guide for the Bulgarian Genebank, approved by the ECPGR Management Committee (2023). Acknowledgements The research work was carried out under the project IS-PGR-SADOVO “Intelligent system for managing Bulgarian plant gene pool, conserved in the genebank of IPGR-Sadovo” with the financial support of the Ministry of Education and Science, Contract number KP-06-H86/9/09.12.2024 of Bulgarian National Science Fund.