Missions of the INRA Centre for Vegetable Germplasm

Introduction

Since the 1960s, researchers have conducted successive introduction campaigns and prospecting to meet the problems of breeding and research. Introductions from abroad have now slowed, and the collection grows mainly from new populations of recombinant lines and other scientific genetic resources created within the unit. The CRB-Leg records each entry and the associated passport data.

Storage

The major part of the collection is kept in seed form stored in cold storage at 5°C to ensure seed quality for about 15 years. The lettuce collection is an exeption as it is stored at -20°C and therefore kept longer.

The CRB-Leg is committed to maintaining accessions under long-term storage (30 to 50 years), by freezing the collections in a dedicated cold storage room (-20°C) and to the implementation of regular checks on the germination of samples. Furthermore, a duplicate sample is transferred to a remote site for safe-keeping.

Multiplication

The CRB-Leg multiplies accessions when seeds are too old or stocks are no longer sufficient to allow distribution. This multiplication is performed under conditions that guarantee the genetic integrity of accessions and the sanitary quality of seeds: insect-proof tunnels or greenhouses, self-fertilisation, isolated fields, seed disinfection, thermotherapy, etc.

This enormous task (1000 accessions to multiply on average per year) is shared with the partners of the Melon, Solanaceae and lettuce genetic resource networks for accessions they manage.

Characterisation

Knowledge of stored resources kept by the CRB-Leg is necessary to facilitate access to their genetic diversity and to make use in breeding faster and more efficient. Characterisation of accessions also avoids duplication and detection of errors made during multiplication. For each species, one or more descriptor charts allow the characterisation of each accession. All of this information is managed by databases which are partly available online on the GnpIS site.

Diffusion

The CRB-Leg wants the resources that it stores to be useful and used both by research and by the community. You will find the distribution terms here: Use our resources

INRA Centre for Vegetable Germplasm coordination: Manon Bouët