S02 - Session P1 - Coordination of genebank activities between different national collections of berry genetic resources in Europe in the frame of ECPGR

Authors: Monika Höfer *,

Cultivated strawberries, raspberries and several other berries belong to the Rosaceae plant family. Fragaria as well as Rubus are comprised of a highly heterozygous series with a range of ploidy levels. Blackcurrants, redcurrants and gooseberry, belong to the Saxifragaceae family, whereas some other berry crops belong to the Ericaceae. Domestication, breeding and the transition from small-scale production to intensive production in specialized farms have resulted in a reduction of both morphological and genetic diversity. Therefore, it is important to conserve all the variability available today in order to limit the decrease of the genetic basis of berries genetic resources. Most of these temperate fruit species are genetically heterozygous and vegetatively propagated. Collections of berries genetic resources are maintained in the field or greenhouse as active collections where the accessions are available for characterization, evaluation, and distribution. Backups for the plant material are needed to provide security in case of a disease or environmental disaster. A long-term coordinated work with extending collaborative actions of berries genetic resources on the European level is necessary. In March 2019, the new Berries working group was established under the umbrella of the European Cooperative Programme for Plant Genetic Resources (ECPGR, http://www.ecpgr.cgiar.org/working-groups/berries/ ). At present, 51 members from 22 European countries accepted to collaborate within this working group. The project "Collaborative action for updating the documentation about berries genetic resources in Europe (EUROPE.BERRIES)" was successfully submitted for funding under the Fourth Call of the Activity Grant Scheme of ECPGR. With the implementation of the project, the varieties/ cultivars of the berries genetic resources will be recorded, the data will be harmonized, qualitatively evaluated and finally will be available for inclusion to the respective National Focal Points for European Search Catalogue for Plant Genetic Resources. In addition, a first draft of crop-specific technical guidelines for genebank management of berries genetic resources will be elaborated.