Oil and Protein Crops Network
| Grain Legumes Working Group |
Oil and Protein Crops Network
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Conservation, management and regeneration of Grain Legume genetic resources. Report of a Survey on Conservation, Management and Regeneration of Grain Legume
Genetic Resources.
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Background information
The Grain Legumes Working Group was established in 1991. The Group has
met 3 times, developing and updating workplans at successive meetings. The last Working Group meeting
(Third
meeting) was held in Kraków, Poland, July 2001. The profile of the Working Group has become recognized as an important focus for grain legume genetic resources coordination within Europe. The Working Group covers a range of species from its inception (Arachis, Cicer, Glycine max, Lens, Lupinus, Phaseolus, Pisum, Vicia faba and Vigna).
The European Grain Legume Databases
The priority identified by the Working Group is to bring all Grain Legume Central Crop Databases (CCDBs) to fruition. CCDBs are already on-line for Cicer, Glycine, Lathyrus, Lens, Lupinus, Phaseolus and Vigna. Those for Pisum and Vicia faba are due on-line soon. The database for Arachis is currently under construction. A Minimum Descriptor List for Arachis considered as priority for inclusion into the European Arachis Database, has been proposed during the ad hoc meeting on Arachis genetic resources (Bulgaria, November 2002. See: Report [PDF file 746KB]).
Regeneration procedures
Discussion during the Working Group meeting in July 2001 and the European Association for Grain Legume Research (AEP) workshop focused on the lack of information available for dealing with the problem of regeneration of allogamous grain legume species. A survey on regeneration practices across European collections has been carried out in 2005 and a workshop to discuss this specific topic is planned to be held in Valladolid, Spain, 22-23 September 2005.
Emergency action
Emergency action to multiply and regenerate material from the Phaseolus collection from the Cambridge University was undertaken in 1999. Italian institutions have multiplied about 400 accessions and the seed obtained was split into two batches, which were sent to Linz, Austria and to HRI, Wellesbourne for long-term conservation.
Link with the European Association for Grain Legume Research (AEP)
Close links have developed with the European Association for Grain Legume Research (AEP) with two members of the Working Group being members of the AEP's scientific committee. AEP is a network of individuals interested in grain legumes and it can be used as a platform to enhance the value and use of legume genetic resources. Areas of common interest include, inter alia, standardization of screening methods for disease resistance and regeneration of allogamic grain legume species.
Link with the PHASELIEU project
The Working Group has collaborated with the FAIR-Project PHASELIEU (1998-2001). The overall aim of the project was to coordinate research activities on Phaseolus, and to elaborate an integrated strategy model for the improvement of Phaseolus production within Europe for human consumption. The objectives in detail were:
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