Managing biological information: options and added value

examples from genetic resources

Weber Amaral, PhD

ERPANET/CODATA International Workshop – 15 – 17 December2003 - Lisbon

•Introduction

•Strategies for conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources

• Case studies and examples of information platforms and services

•Conclusion

ERPANET/CODATA International Workshop – 15 – 17 December2003 - Lisbon

“The architect is presented with inconclusiveor contradictory information on problems of

building technique, and no independent authorityis prepared to give guidance on the relative merits

of alternative products and systems”

Michael Ventris, 1950The man who deciphered linear B

IPGRI-What it is

• One of 15 Future Harvest centers of the CGIAR

• An International Institute that helps partners look after and use genetic diversity

Biodiversity and Agrobiodiversity

AGRO-BIODIVERSITY10,000 species

vascularplants

250,000

BIODIVERSITY5-50 million total living species

10,000 edible spp. and wild

relatives

20 staple crops of global

importance

100 species provide 90% of

human nutrition

gure 2: Local map

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4

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1213

14 16

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3

2

1

9 10

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ReferencePrimary school

A. araucana in pure stands

Harvested site

A. araucana and Nothofagus sp.forest

meadows

Rivers

Secundary paths

Province Route

National Park border

Chiuquilihuin and Auca-pan communities

North

Inndian Commiunities

Lanín National Park

Communities

Multiple landscapes

Diversity inproduction systems

Molecular analysis

GIS and other tools Multiple stakeholders

Interdisciplinary approaches and meta-data analysis

Ex situ Conservation

• Conserving species outside of their natural habitat, for example in a genebank

In situ Conservation

• Conserving plant populations in their natural habitat

• Cultivated species and their wild relatives: in the habitat in which they were domesticated

Collections in the CGIAR

Landraces

Wild speciesAdvanced cultivars

27%

59%

14%

11 genebanks600,000 accessionswell documentedmostly landracespublic domain

Strategyhttp://singer.cgiar.org

Evalu

ati

on

Pass

po

rt

http://cimmyt.cgiar.org

Impact studies on Germplasm flows

19%

81%

Developed countries

Developing countries

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

NARS Univ Private Others

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

NARS Univ Private Others

Impact studies on Germplasm flows

12%20%

14%

8%5%

11%

10%

“Flows”: ICRISAT Groundnut

Impact studies on Germplasm flows

Breeding(43%)

Evaluation(26%)

Biotic &abiotic stress(12%)

Fodder(13%)

Dual(6%)

ICRISAT Sorghum purpose

What variables are needed in the “meta-dictionary”?

The data should be targeted towards answering the following questions:

– The amount and distribution of diversity on-farm: what diversity is maintained on farm, where is it and how is it distributed?

– How is this diversity maintained: the processes used to maintain this diversity?

– Who maintains this diversity and who make decisions on what and how is should be maintained?

– Why: what factors influence the maintenance and management of diversity on-farm?

What is in a name? Is the cultivar name the unit farmers manage or a set of traits?

What is the relationship of farmers’ names to genetic distinctiveness?

Name Seed size (mg/seed)

Pod length

Number of seed per pod

Seed color Pod shape

Foul Sbaï labiade, Large Long 7 Light yellow Flattened Foul Sbaï Sdassi, Large Long 6 to 7 Brown Flattened Foul Roumi Large Long 6 to 7 Brown Flattened Lakbir Lahmar Large Long 6 to 7 Brown Flattened R’baï Labiade Large Medium 4 to 5 Light yellow Flattened Rbaï Laghlid, Large Medium 4 to 5 Brown Flattened Khmassi Laghlide Large Medium 4 to 5 Brown Flattened Laghlide Labiade Beldi Large Short 3 Light yellow Flattened Laghlide Beldi Large Short 3 Dark Brown Flattened Moutouassate Labiad, Medium (0.8-1.5) Medium 4 to 5 Light yellow Flattened Foul Beldi Medium (0.8-1.5) Medium 4 to 5 Light yellow Flattened Moutouassate Labiad, Medium (0.8-1.5) Medium 4 to 5 Light yellow Cylindrical Foul Beldi Medium (0.8-1.5) Medium 4 to 5 Light yellow Cylindrical Moutouassate, Medium (0.8-1.5) Medium 4 to 5 Brown Flattened Foul Beldi Khal Medium (0.8-1.5) Medium 4 to 5 Brown Flattened Moutouassate Labiad, Medium (0.8-1.5) Medium 4 to 5 Brown Cylindrical Foul Beldi Khal Medium (0.8-1.5) Medium 4 to 5 Brown Cylindrical Beldi Lakhdar Medium (0.8-1.5) Medium 4 to 5 Green Flattened A Medium (0.8-1.5) Short 3 Beige clear Flattened B Medium (0.8-1.5) Short 3 Beige clear Cylindrical C Medium (0.8-1.5) Short 3 Dark (brown) Flattened D Medium (0.8-1.5) Short 3 Green Intermediate E Medium (0.8-1.5) Short 3 Violet Flattened Rguigue Labiade, Small (<0.8) Short 3 Beige clear Cylindrical Fouila Beldia, Small (<0.8) Short 3 Beige clear Cylindrical Filt Small (<0.8) Short 3 Beige clear Cylindrical Rguigue, Small (<0.8) Short 3 Brown Cylindrical Foul Sghir Lahmar Small (<0.8) Short 3 Brown Cylindrical Filt Small (<0.8) Short 3 Brown Cylindrical Baldia khadra Small (<0.8) Short 3 Green Cylindrical Foul Bouzid Small (<0.8) Short 3 Violet Cylindrical

Same traits different names

Same name different traits

Populations A, B, C, D, E had no names but were recognized as different units of diversity by farmers by a set of common traits

In Situ data structure and data management

Houshold(HH)

Farmers’traits to distinguish

FUDFarmers Unit of Diversity Management

Traits to select seeds/ clones/ pollen

Preferred traits

Member of HH

PlotSite information for one season Agromorphic,

Biochem/Molecular Charaterisation--genetic diversity --unique traits

Evaluation of traits

Farmer plot management practices

Seed/clone/pollen storage

Seed/clone/ pollen flows

Plot x FUD x Time

Village

Who: Decides practice Does the practice

Crop x village

Policies

Market

Climate

Crop

Farmers’perception of environment (a/biotic, social, economic)

Information management:One size fits all?

From the field to end users: quality & validation Systems: robust, flexible, easy to useSense of ownership & policy issues

Adding value

Farmers need to benefit in some way from conserving diversity. Improving how produce is marketed can increase incomes and provide an

incentive to continue conserving.

Farmers: biological informationand market demands

Biological diversity and cultural diversity

ObrigadoThank you

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www.ipgri.cgiar.org