Ex Situ Conservation of Genetic Resources of Forage and Turf Species in the IPK Genebank at Malchow

Abstract

The IPK Genebank, Satellite Collections North, at Malchow/Poel is responsible for the ex situ maintenance of genetic resources of forage plants in Germany. More than 10,400 accessions of grasses (forage and turf species) and 1,300 small grained forage legumes (red clover and alfalfa) belong to the collections, originating mainly from Europe, but partially also from destinations around the world. The main goal is to hold all accessions available for distribution and characterize/evaluate them for different research and breeding purposes as intensively as possible. For this means, a good documentation system is necessary, besides the management of PGR according to European Genebank Standards and a protocol for a quality management system (certificate ISO 9001:2008).

In specific research projects, accessions of the most important species like Lolium perenne L. and Poa pratensis L. are described for traits concerning morphology and/or relevant for breeding in order to have an assessment on the value of PGR for different uses.

In an overview, we will present which tasks have to be fulfilled and how this is achieved. Some results of characterization/evaluation trials and of specific research projects are provided, setting the stage for a better use of forage genetic resources in Germany, Europe and world-wide.