Plant introduction as a priority direction of scientific and practical activity of the National Centre for Plant Genetic Resources of Ukraine

Abstract

The aim of the article is to summarize the results of plant gene pool samples introduction into the National Plant Genebank from different countries and ecological and geographical zones for use in domestic breeding. Results and Discussion. In 2016 – 2018, 5984 samples were introduced to the Centre for Plant Genetic Resources of Ukraine using various information sources, including 2093 samples from Ukraine and 3891 from foreign countries. The greatest samples variety was attracted by cereals, leguminous, fodder, medicinal and essential oil, vegetable and melon crops, corn. Seeds of new forms having valuable properties are attached from research and breeding institutions of Ukraine. The samples of foreign origin were most actively introduced through cooperation with research institutions of Russia, Belarus, and Moldova. A significant number of samples came from genebanks in Europe: the Czech Republic, Italy, France, Germany, the Netherlands; Asia: Kazakhstan Turkey, Israel, China as well as from South (Mexico) and North America - USA, Canada. The ways of pre-adaptation and adaptation of samples from geographically remote regions for use in Ukraine are indicated. To collect local cultural and wild-growing samples of different crops, collecting missions were carried out in the central and southern regions of the forest-steppe and northeastern regions of Ukraine during which 1641 gene pool samples were collected. For the Red Book species of plants and species that are not listed in the Red Book of Ukraine but are rare or are threatened with extinction under natural conditions, a points have been identified for possible arrangement of in situ conservation reserves. A number of objects with a rich genetic diversity of fodder and medicinal plants have been identified, on which it is necessary to monitor coenoses and ensure in situ conservation. The introduced samples were transferred for use in research and breeding programs in Ukraine. Conclusions. The definition of a model of ecologically adapted in Ukraine genotypes of different crops that are carriers of valuable traits from countries with similar climatic conditions as well as from geographically remote regions, has made it possible to increase the efficiency of introduction and to more specifically search and attract to the National Genebank the plant samples with the necessary manifestation levels of economic and biological traits.