Plant Genetic Resources Conservation and Utilization

Dear colleagues,

Biodiversity is the foundation of human survival and development. Agro-biodiversity is a part of biodiversity and supports the food system by providing specific ecosystems for human beings. Plant genetic resources are the backbones of agro-biodiversity for food and agriculture, and also for supporting plant breeding. Nonetheless, many locally used species have not been sufficiently exploited with scientific support, and information sharing is meagre at the global basis. Some of them could be utilized widely to cope with the climate challenges which hamper food production with conventional crops. Combinations of local varieties of a crop species can be a replacement of large-scale monoculture of one cultivar, such as banana, by providing resilience and overall production stability with numbers of varieties. Further, employment of a wide range of exotic and under-utilized species could be the new approach for supporting new food systems to enforce diet and nutrition under very unpredictable global climates.

The aims of this research topic are to assemble different approaches and to provide forums to discuss the values of agro-biodiversity and plant genetic resources, and further to promote research associated with plant genetic resources and to lead to sustainable development to open arenas for new approaches on the conservation and uses of agro-biodiversity. Some examples of research subjects include genetic diversity conservation status, conservation technology, on-farm management of plant genetic resources, agroecology, agroforestry, gene bank management of plant genetic resources, utilization, value-finding analytic approaches such as by phytochemistry, and ethic, legal and social issues on plant genetic resources.

We welcome alternative approaches from the present crop breeding and uses which are rather large-scale monoculture of a small number of genotypes. Some of the key topics may be based on an amalgamation of scientific research with policy, laws, ethics, and socioeconomic aspects.

Prof. Dr. Rodomiro Ortiz
Prof. Dr. Kazuo N. Watanabe
Guest Editors

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