Genetic Resources In Agriculture (chap 4) Part 1

Center of Origin - A geographical area where a species (domesticated or wild), first developed its distinctive properties.

Six Independent Center of Crop Origin
- Mesoamerica (Southern Mexico, North Central America)
  - Maize, beans, sweet potato
- Andes & South America (Peru, Chile, Brazil)
  - Pineapple, groundnut, papaya
- Southeast Asia
  - Mango, nutmeg, banana
- China
  - Soybean, orange, apricot
- Africa
  - Oil palm, coffee, watermelon
- Southwest Asia (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Israel)
  - Wheat, oat, carrot







Origin & Distribution of Livestock, Poultry, Fish
- Several breeds or species of livestock, fish and poultry are reared since domestication.
- Breeders around the world develop the animals
- When men migrated, they brought animals with them and continue farming activities at new land.
- Genetic engineering and reproductive biotechnology.

Livestock & Center of Origin
- Beef Cattle Breed
- Dairy Cattle
- Goat & Sheep
- Poultry
- Fish (Aquaculture)


Germplasm
- A collection of genetic resources for an organism
- Worldwide collections of plant, animal & bacterial germplasm for use in breeding new organisms and conservation of existing species.

Biological Diversity (Biodiversity)
- Variability among living organisms
- Plant or animal diversity
- Terrestrial or marine
- Within species or between species

Three Aspects of Biodiversity
- Ecosytem diversity
  - Different diversity in variety of habitats, topography, elevation, natural vs agroecosystem
- Species diversity
  - Variety of living organisms
- Genetic diversity
  - The total of all the genetic information carried by individual organisms
  - Variation (diversity) of genes within a species

Genetic Resource Applications
- Agriculture production is increased through the use of improved genetic resources (new variety) created by altering the genetic constitution.
- Advantages
  - Increase in yield
  - Pest and disease resistance
  - Ecological tolerance
- Categories of Genetic Resources
  - Wild relatives
  - Weedy relatives
  - Primitive cultivars/landraces
  - Modern cultivars
  - Advanced breeding lines
  - Genes from other species

Conservation of genetic resources
- Techniques
  - In situ conservation (On site conservation)
  - Ex situ conservation (Off site conservation)

Threat to diversity & genetic resources
- Dying species
  - Domestication and use of modern varieties
  - Intentional damage (Wanton)
  - Natural extinctions as a result of competition and natural disasters