Generic Resources

Plant Genetic Resources

NPGRC activities

Collections

Collections are carried out in collaboration with the Agricultural Extension Advisory Services of Provincial Departments of Agriculture, the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), and ARC. The NPGRC largely collects seeds from farmers in different communities. Collection missions mainly target underrepresented species and/or geographical areas. 

Documentation

The NPGRC uses the SADC Plant Genetic Resources Centre Documentation Information System (SDIS) to upload and update passport data of accessions and other relevant information. Passport data of about 6 275 accessions has been updated on the SDIS. The NPGRC also annually updates accession information of PGRFA through the FAO World Information and Early Warning System (WIEWS).

Ex-situ 

The collection constitutes representative of 712 species. Currently, the majority of the accessions belong to cucurbits (18,5%), beans – cowpeas, Bambara groundnut (16,2%), maize (15%), and sorghum (5%). The NPGRC also houses 284 accessions collected under the SANBI-Millennium Seed Bank Project. These collections are stored in chest freezers (Figure 2) at -18 ^°C for long-term conservation (base collection). For short-term storage (active collection), a walk-in cold room (Figure 2) maintained at temperatures between 4 ^°C and 7 ^°C and a relative humidity of 15% is used. Tissue culture samples are kept in labcons at temperatures between 20 ^°C and 28 ^°C. The NPGRC is currently (2021 – 2023) conducting an audit of accessions in the gene bank. Through the audit, it would be possible to identify accessions that have been lost from the ex-situ collection. The NPGRC intends to re-collect the lost material.

Tissue culture and field gene bank for vegetative crops activities.

The NPGRC maintains three vegetative propagated species, namely, cassava, sweet potato, and taro. These three crops are maintained in the shade houses. Cassava and sweet potato are also duplicated in tissue culture.

In-situ / On-farm

From 2013–2019, the department partnered with Bioversity International in a project aimed at strengthening farmers' seed systems and Community Seed Bank (CSB) Projects in South Africa. This project was funded through contributions made by the Republic of South Africa (acting through the then DAFF) to the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centres (CGIAR) Trust Fund. So far, through this project, three Community Seed Banks have been established in Gumbu (Limpopo), Sterkspruit (Eastern Cape) and Jericho (North West); two practical handbooks for establishing and supporting Community Seed Banks have been published; traditional seed exchange, learning workshops and training sessions on Community Seed Bank management and on conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture have been conducted for Gumbu, Jericho and Sterkspruit farmers.

On-farm conservation projects

 To expand the on-farm conservation activities of the NPGRC, on-farm conservation and multiplication projects were implemented in 2017 in two provinces, viz., the Free State and Northern Cape. The main aim of the project was to re-introduce varieties that were no longer grown in different areas of the two provinces. Nineteen (19) farmers participated in the project and most were women. To date, about 50 and 29 different crop accessions were planted in the Free State and Northern Cape, respectively. The crops planted included maize, pumpkins, beans, calabash, sorghum, sweet sorghum, cowpea, Bambara, melon, and watermelon. 

Multiplication

Multiplication and characterization 

The National Plan on Conservation and Sustainable Use of PGRFA identifies gaps and needs for multiplication and characterization of ex-situ accessions. The following crops have been prioritised by the NPGRC for morphological characterization, Vigna unguiculata (cowpea), Vigna subterranea (bambara groundnut), Lagenaria siceraria (calabash/bottlegourd), Pennisetum glaucum (pearl millet), Sorghum bicolor (sorghum), Amaranthus sp. (amaranths), Cucurbita pepo (pumpkin), Abelmoschus (okra) and Colocasia esculenta (taro). The NPGRC has also requested the SPGRC to multiply certain crops on their behalf, e.g.  Vigna subterranea and Arachis.