S08. Genetic Resources in Horticulture: screening, propagation, use and conservation
The great diversity of genotypes represents a major challenge for the scientific community to find effective methods of identification and selection of individuals possessing characteristics adapted to the constantly changing climate conditions and also having nutritional and curative properties to ensure human health.
There are horticultural crops that, although they can have an essential contribution to human nutrition and health, as well as to climate change adaptation, have not been exploited. On the other hand, some genetic resources are being eroded by agricultural practices, by the destruction of habitats or due to climate change. As a result, there is a pressing need for novel approaches and technologies applied to the conservation and sustainable use of horticultural diversity.
Plant genetic resources from wild areas or from germplasm collections, represent an extraordinary biological material for study and exploitation. Thus, starting from a certain plant material are necessary: a) criteria and methods for effective identification and selection of promising accessions / individuals for their valuable and useful traits; b) agromorphological, biochemical and molecular methods/protocols to evaluate the expression of these properties under different conditions; c) new and modern approaches for maintaining, enriching and using the horticultural genetic resources from wild areas, or conserved / storaged in germplasm collections.
The preservation and sustainable use of horticultural genetic resources, as well as of autochthonous/traditional varieties, can be achieved through collaboration between groups of specialists and authorized units (farmers, private producers, researchers, research units holding germplasm collections, institutions protecting the natural heritages). Working together and in partnership, we will contribute to the in-depth knowledge of the genetic diversity of horticultural plants and to the rational and efficient use of this variability.
This symposium has the following main topics for debate:
- Genetic pools of horticultural crops and their present availability for research purposes and sustainable use
- Phenotypic traits, biochemical and molecular techniques applied for identification and selection (screening) of valuable genotypes in horticultural crops
- Modern methods for propagation and maintenance the horticultural genetic resources - in situ and ex-situ collections;
- Using the horticultural genetic resources (wild and cultivated species, autochthonous/local cultivars for developing high-yielding and biotic and abiotic stress tolerance); Conservation and sustainable use of horticultural genetic resources – approaches, strategies, and policies.
- Horticultural genetic resources used in complex studies of evolutionary biology, essential for understanding their ancestral origin and possible use as genitors in breeding programs.
- Miscellaneous
For abstract submission, an active ISHS membership is needed (https://www.ishs.org/members).
If you are not yet an ISHS member and want to pay the membership within the Congress fee (https://ehc.usamv.ro/congress-participant/) – (Non ISHS members, including ACTA), you can ask for a voucher to secretariat@ehc.usamv.ro. Your membership will be active and you can submit the abstracts.
For more information/details please contact secretariat@ehc.usamv.ro
Dorin Ioan Sumedrea is General Director of the National Research and Development Institute for Biotechnology in Horticulture Stefanesti - Arges, Romania, Member of the Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences and Vice President of the of the Romanian Horticulturists Society.
Senior researcher with 30 years of scientific activity, in the field of perennial crops, during which he has built a strong track record in the following topics: fruit trees and vineyards technologies, management of pruning and training systems, integrated control of diseases and pests, precision horticulture, study and monitoring of climate change, with major impact on orchard and vineyard, hydric stress, irrigation and fertirrigation, postharvest technologies, breeding of fruit trees and vines (co-author of patents for fruit trees and table grapes). Also, in the last years, he has extended experience related to Genetic Resources in Horticulture: genetic resources management, biodiversity conservation, plant tissue culture, ampelographic description and molecular analysis for complete characterization and identification of the grapevine varieties from germplasm collections etc.
Emmanuel Geoffriau is Professor at Institut Agro in Angers, France, in the fields of genetic diversity and agronomy of vegetable crops, cropping systems, urban agriculture. He is director of the research team “Quality and resistance to diseases of vegetable crops” in the Institute of Research in Horticulture and Seeds (IRHS). He is coordinator of the French genetic resources center "Carrot and other vegetable Apiaceae".
He served as Vice-President of IHC2022 31st ISHS international congress, Chair of the Scientific Committee. He is Chair of the ISHS working group « Carrot and other Apiaceae» and French representative to the ISHS Council.
Senior research leader of the nut tree research program at the Research Centre, which focuses on breeding, evaluating genetic resources, genotypes, and cultivars bred abroad and home. As well as, he is taking part in the examination of the inner content value of different organs of Persian walnut and their effects on the growing traits and health.
