A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

 

 

 

A

• Accession: a sample of a crop variety collected at a specific location and time; may be of any size (WRI et al., 1992)

C

• Crop Wild Relatives (CWR): Species more or less closely related to crops, the possible progenitors or direct ancestors of crops and can possibly act as gene donors to crop (Maxted et al., 2008).

• Cultivar: International term denoting certain cultivated plants that are clearly distinguishable from others by one or more characteristics and that when reproduced retain their distinguishing characteristics. In the United States, ‘variety’ is considered to be synonymous with cultivar (derived from ‘cultivated variety’) (UNEP, n.d.)

E

• Environmental representativity score (ERS): Index used for these analyses to determine environmental gaps. It is estimated as follows:

  • ERS=EC/PC, where EC is the environmental coverage of germplasm collections, and PC is the potential environmental coverage of the taxon under analysis.

• Ex situ conservation: A conservation method that entails the removal of germplasm resources (seed, pollen, sperm, individual organisms, from their original habitat or natural environment. Keeping components of biodiversity alive outside of their original habitat or natural environment (WRI et al., 1992).

G

• Gap analysis: Conservation evaluation technique that identifies geographic areas in which selected elements of biodiversity that still underepresented in any ex situ conservation strategy, are expected to be found (Maxted et al., 2008).

• Genebank: A facility established for the ex situ conservation of individuals (seeds), tissues, or reproductive cells of plants or animals (WRI et al., 1992).

• Genepool: The sum total of genes, with all their variations, possessed by a particular species at a particular time (DeVicente, 2004)

• Genetic Resources: The genes found in plants and animals that are of actual or potential value to people (DeVicente, 2004)

• Geographic representativity score (GRS): Index used for these analysis, to compare the current geographic coverage
  of germplasm collections with the predicted distribution of the taxon.

  • GRS = GCG/PC, where GCG is the geographic coverage of germplasm collections and PC is the potential distribution of the taxon under analysis.

• Georeferencing: Is the process of converting text descriptions of locations to computer-readable geographic locations, such as a GIS system uses.This proces involves three stages: generating location coordinates, calculating the error, and validation (BioGeomancer Working Group, 2005-2007)

• Germplasm: The genetic material, especially its specific molecular and chemical constitution, that comprises the physical basis of the inherited qualities of an organism (WRI et al., 1992).

H

• High Priority Taxa:
  This term is given to taxa requiring immediate action for their collection and ex situ conservation, with the purpose of broaden current environmental, taxonomical and/or geographical representativity of the genepool.

I

• In situ conservation: A conservation method that attempts to preserve the genetic integrity of gene resources by conserving them within the evolutionary dynamic ecosystems of the original habitat or natural environment (WRI et al., 1992).

L

• Landrace: A crop cultivar or animal breed that evolved with and has been genetically improved by traditional agriculturalists, but has not been influenced by modern breeding practices (WRI et al., 1992).

• Low Priority Taxa: Term given to those taxa identified better represented in genebanks, after the GapAnalysis process.

M

• Medium Priority Taxa: Term given to those taxa flagged as relatively unrepresented after the GapAnalysis process.

P

• Plant Genetic Resources (PGR): The genetic material of plants which is of value as a resource for the present and future generations of people (IPGRI, 1993)

• Potential sampling zones: For the case of these analyses, potential sampling zones are geographical areas where High Priority Taxa is expected to be found.

• Primary genepool (GP-1): It consists of biological species, and crossing within this genepool is easy. Hybrids are vigorous, exhibit normal meiotic chromosome pairing, and possess total fertility. The gene secregation is normal, and gene exchange is generally easy (Singh, 2003).

Q

• Quaternary genepool (GP-4):It is the extreme outer limit of genetic resources and requires radical methods to produce F₁ hybrids such as protoplast fusion and genetic transformation (Singh, 2009).

S

• Sampling representativity score (SRS): Index used in these analyses, in order to calculate representativity of genebank accessions for each taxon. It is estimated using the following formula:

  • SRS = GS/(GS+HS), where GS is the number of germplasm samples and HS represents the herbarium samples.

• Secondary genepool (GP-2): It includes all species that can be crossed with GP-1 with at least some fertility in F₁. The gene transfer is possible but may be difficult (Singh, 2003).

• Subspecies (subsp.): A subdivision of a species; a population or series of populations occupying a discrete range of differing genetically from other subspecies of the same species (WRI et al., 1992).

T

• Tertiary genepool (GP-3): It is the outer limit of potential genetic resources. Hybrids between GP-1 and GP-3 are difficult to produce, require in vitro technique to rescue F₁ plant, and F₁ plants are anomalous, lethal, or completely sterile. However, it is worth remembering that GP-3 may harbor traits of economic importance, and technology is being developed to transfer useful genes to cultivated crops from GP-3 (Singh, 2003; Singh, 2006 ).