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Puneeth GM, Gowthami R, Katral A, Laxmisha KM, Vasudeva R, Singh GP, Archak S. On-farm crop diversity, conservation, importance and value: a case study of landraces from Western Ghats of Karnataka, India. Sci Rep 2024; 14:10712. [PMID: 38730080 PMCID: PMC11087530 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61428-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Landraces are important genetic resources that have a significant role in maintaining the long-term sustainability of traditional agro-ecosystems, food, nutrition, and livelihood security. In an effort to document landraces in the on-farm conservation context, Central Western Ghat region in India was surveyed. A total of 671 landraces belonging to 60 crops were recorded from 24 sites. The custodian farmers were found to conserve a variety of crops including vegetables, cereals and pulses, perennial fruits, spices, tuber and plantation crops. The survey indicated a difference in the prevalence of landraces across the sites. A significant difference with respect to the Shannon-diversity index, Gini-Simpson index, evenness, species richness, and abundance was observed among the different survey sites. Computation of a prevalence index indicated the need for immediate intervention in the form of collecting and ex situ conservation of landraces of some crops as a back-up to on-farm conservation. The study also identified the critical determinants of on-farm conservation, including (i) suitability to regional conditions, (ii) relevance in regional cuisine and local medicinal practices, (iii) cultural and traditional significance, and (iv) economic advantage. The information documented in this study is expected to promote the collection and conservation of landraces ex situ. The National Genebank housed at ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi conserves around 550 accessions of landraces collected from the Central Western Ghats region surveyed in this report. Information collected from custodian farmers on specific uses will be helpful to enhance the utilization of these accessions.
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Affiliation(s)
- G M Puneeth
- Division of Plant Genetic Resources, ICAR - Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110 012, India
| | - Ravi Gowthami
- ICAR - National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110 012, India
| | - Ashvinkumar Katral
- Division of Genetics, ICAR - Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110 012, India
| | - Kerekoppa Manjunatha Laxmisha
- Division of Plant Genetic Resources, ICAR - Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110 012, India
| | - Ramesh Vasudeva
- College of Forestry, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Sirsi, 581 401, India
| | - Gyanendra Pratap Singh
- ICAR - National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110 012, India
| | - Sunil Archak
- ICAR - National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, 110 012, India.
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Patel A, Miles A, Strackhouse T, Cook L, Leng S, Patel S, Klinger K, Rudrabhatla S, Potlakayala SD. Methods of crop improvement and applications towards fortifying food security. Front Genome Ed 2023; 5:1171969. [PMID: 37484652 PMCID: PMC10361821 DOI: 10.3389/fgeed.2023.1171969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Agriculture has supported human life from the beginning of civilization, despite a plethora of biotic (pests, pathogens) and abiotic (drought, cold) stressors being exerted on the global food demand. In the past 50 years, the enhanced understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms in plants has led to novel innovations in biotechnology, resulting in the introduction of desired genes/traits through plant genetic engineering. Targeted genome editing technologies such as Zinc-Finger Nucleases (ZFNs), Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases (TALENs), and Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) have emerged as powerful tools for crop improvement. This new CRISPR technology is proving to be an efficient and straightforward process with low cost. It possesses applicability across most plant species, targets multiple genes, and is being used to engineer plant metabolic pathways to create resistance to pathogens and abiotic stressors. These novel genome editing (GE) technologies are poised to meet the UN's sustainable development goals of "zero hunger" and "good human health and wellbeing." These technologies could be more efficient in developing transgenic crops and aid in speeding up the regulatory approvals and risk assessments conducted by the US Departments of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
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Affiliation(s)
- Aayushi Patel
- Penn State Harrisburg, Middletown, PA, United States
| | - Andrew Miles
- Penn State University Park, State College, University Park, PA, United States
| | | | - Logan Cook
- Penn State Harrisburg, Middletown, PA, United States
| | - Sining Leng
- Shanghai United Cell Biotechnology Co Ltd, Shanghai, China
| | - Shrina Patel
- Penn State Harrisburg, Middletown, PA, United States
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Bai YL, Fu C, Thapa B, Rana RB, Zhang LX. Effects of conservation measures on crop diversity and their implications for climate-resilient livelihoods: the case of Rupa Lake Watershed in Nepal. JOURNAL OF MOUNTAIN SCIENCE 2022; 19:945-957. [PMID: 35432490 PMCID: PMC9005915 DOI: 10.1007/s11629-020-6426-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Agrobiodiversity conservation is vital for achieving sustainability, but empirical studies on the effects of different practices or measures on crop diversity are rare. This study aims to estimate the effects of raising conservation awareness (RCA), building diversity blocks (BDB), and their combination on crop diversity among 240 randomly selected households surrounding the Rupa Lake Watershed in Nepal. Based on descriptive analysis and multiple regression models, the results indicate that the two single measures had no significant effect on the numbers of crop species and varieties grown by households in 2018. However, the combination of RCA and BDB had a significantly positive effect on the number of crop varieties, especially for grain and vegetable crops. Considering that these crops are essential in the daily lives of local people, the results indicate that a strategy that combines both awareness raising and on-farm conservation measures can generate higher crop diversity and better serve the climate-resilient livelihoods of people in mountainous areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-li Bai
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China
- United Nations Environment Programme-International Ecosystem Management Partnership (UNEP-IEMP), Beijing, 100101 China
| | - Chao Fu
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China
- United Nations Environment Programme-International Ecosystem Management Partnership (UNEP-IEMP), Beijing, 100101 China
| | - Balaram Thapa
- Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD), PO Box 324, Pokhara, 33700 Nepal
| | - Ram Balladur Rana
- Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD), PO Box 324, Pokhara, 33700 Nepal
| | - Lin-xiu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China
- United Nations Environment Programme-International Ecosystem Management Partnership (UNEP-IEMP), Beijing, 100101 China
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Marinelli MV, Valente D, Scavuzzo CM, Petrosillo I. Landscape service flow dynamics in the metropolitan area of Córdoba (Argentina). JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 280:111714. [PMID: 33303249 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Human decisions, policies, and management strategies play an important role in structuring landscape patterns in a metropolitan area. Land-use/land-cover (LULC) changes can be considered probably the most important factor affecting the environment and the maintenance of landscape service flow. In particular, processes such as agricultural intensification, deforestation, urbanization and industrialization affect landscape heterogeneity in terms of composition and configuration. However, the multifunctional aspect of LULC as well as traditional agricultural practices can contribute to the maintenance of landscape service flow. This research aims to analyze and assess: (1) LULC dynamics and change from 1988 to 2019 within the metropolitan area of Córdoba (Argentina); (2) the effect of this change on landscape composition and configuration; (3) the flow of landscape services from 1988 to 2019, with the identification of hot-spots of landscape service provision. To analyze LULC dynamics and change within the study area, three Landsat images were utilized, while change detection analysis has been performed to identify the areas most affected by changes, the spatial distribution of change and the change trajectories of LULC classes in terms of landscape composition and configuration. Finally, the valuation of landscape service flow has been carried out by placing an economic value on the LULC classes, through the use of proxies. LULC pattern change has resulted in the expansion of extensive agriculture. The total variation from 1988 to 2019 has highlighted a significant reduction of Horticulture, Forests, and Grasslands, which have been converted into other classes (Urban and Extensive Agriculture). This conversion of LULC classes has had profound effects on landscape service flow, which guarantees the well-being of local communities. This research has contributed to the knowledge of where the hot-spots of landscape service' provision are located by helping landscape managers to identify suitable local policies able to preserve them, thus avoiding their loss, and enhancing landscape integrity, functionality, and resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Victoria Marinelli
- National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) & National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), Argentina; Institute for Higher Space Studies "Mario Gulich" (CONAE & UNC) Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Donatella Valente
- Lab. of Landscape Ecology, Dept. of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy.
| | | | - Irene Petrosillo
- Lab. of Landscape Ecology, Dept. of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
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‘Warehouse’ or research centre? Analyzing public preferences for conservation, pre-breeding and characterization activities at the Czech genebank. Food Secur 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s12571-020-01040-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Social Valuation of Genebank Activities: Assessing Public Demand for Genetic Resource Conservation in the Czech Republic. SUSTAINABILITY 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/su10113997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The use of diverse genetic resources to breed improved crop varieties has been a key driver of agricultural productivity improvements in the past century. At the same time, the adoption of modern varieties has contributed to substantial loss of traditional varieties. In this analysis, we estimate the social value provided by several proposed crop diversity conservation programs to be carried out by the Czech genebank system. We use a double-bounded dichotomous choice model to estimate the willingness-to-pay (WTP) for conserving additional crop varieties in the genebank for ten years using data collected through an online contingent valuation survey administered to a sample representative of the general Czech population (1037 respondents) and a smaller sub-sample representative of the agricultural region of South Moravia (500 respondents). Mean WTP was found to be about $9 for both the Czech and S. Moravian sub-samples, corresponding to country-wide benefits of ~$68 million. These benefits increase by 6–7% for every ten varieties conserved, implying total welfare benefits of ~$84 million for a program conserving the maximum number of 35 additional crop varieties offered in the experiment. The study illustrates an empirical approach of potential value for policymakers responsible for determining funding levels for genetic resource conservation.
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Kassie GT, Abdulai A, Greene WH, Shiferaw B, Abate T, Tarekegne A, Sutcliffe C. Modeling Preference and Willingness to Pay for Drought Tolerance (DT) in Maize in Rural Zimbabwe. WORLD DEVELOPMENT 2017; 94:465-477. [PMID: 28579670 PMCID: PMC5384451 DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2017.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Maize plays a leading role in the food security of millions in southern Africa, yet it is highly vulnerable to the moisture stress brought about by the erratic rainfall patterns that characterize weather systems in the area. Developing and making drought-tolerant maize varieties available to farmers in the region has thus long been a key goal on the regional development agenda. Farm-level adoption of these varieties, however, depends on local perceptions of the value they add, along with willingness to pay (WTP) for it. Focusing on Zimbabwe, this research aimed at estimating the implicit prices farmers are willing to pay for drought tolerance in maize compared to other preferred traits. Using a choice experiment framework, we generated 12,600 observations from a random sample of 1,400 households in communal areas within 14 districts of Zimbabwe. Taste parameters and heterogeneities were estimated using the generalized multinomial logit model (G-MNL). The results reveal drought tolerance, grain yield, covered cob tip, cob size, and semi-flint texture to be the most preferred traits by farm households in Zimbabwe. The WTP estimates show that farmers are willing to pay a premium for drought tolerance equal to 2.56, 7, 3.2, and 5 times higher than for an additional ton of yield per acre, bigger cob size, larger grain size, and covered cob tip, respectively. We suggest designing and implementing innovative ways of promoting DT maize along with awareness-raising activities to enhance contextual understandings of drought and drought risk to speed adoption of new DT maize varieties by risk-prone farming communities. Given the high level of rural literacy and the high rate of adoption of improved maize, trait-based promotion and marketing of varieties constitutes the right strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Tsedeke Abate
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Nairobi, Kenya
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Wang Y, Wang Y, Sun X, Caiji Z, Yang J, Cui D, Cao G, Ma X, Han B, Xue D, Han L. Influence of ethnic traditional cultures on genetic diversity of rice landraces under on-farm conservation in southwest China. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2016; 12:51. [PMID: 27788685 PMCID: PMC5084377 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-016-0120-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2016] [Accepted: 10/07/2016] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Crop genetic resources are important components of biodiversity. However, with the large-scale promotion of mono-cropping, genetic diversity has largely been lost. Ex-situ conservation approaches were widely used to protect traditional crop varieties worldwide. However, this method fails to maintain the dynamic evolutionary processes of crop genetic resources in their original habitats, leading to genetic diversity reduction and even loss of the capacity of resistance to new diseases and pests. Therefore, on-farm conservation has been considered a crucial complement to ex-situ conservation. This study aimed at clarifying the genetic diversity differences between ex-situ conservation and on-farm conservation and to exploring the influence of traditional cultures on genetic diversity of rice landraces under on-farm conservation. METHODS The conservation status of rice landrace varieties, including Indica and Japonica, non-glutinous rice (Oryza sativa) and glutinous rice (Oryza sativa var. glutinosa Matsum), was obtained through ethno-biology investigation method in 12 villages of ethnic groups from Guizhou, Yunnan and Guangxi provinces of China. The genetic diversity between 24 pairs of the same rice landraces from different times were compared using simple sequence repeat (SSR) molecular markers technology. The landrace paris studied were collected in 1980 and maintained ex-situ, while 2014 samples were collected on-farm in southwest of China. RESULTS The results showed that many varieties of rice landraces have been preserved on-farm by local farmers for hundreds or thousands of years. The number of alleles (Na), effective number of alleles (Ne), Nei genetic diversity index (He) and Shannon information index (I) of rice landraces were significantly higher by 12.3-30.4 % under on-farm conservation than under ex-situ conservation. Compared with the ex-situ conservation approach, rice landraces under on-farm conservation programs had more alleles and higher genetic diversity. In every site we investigated, ethnic traditional cultures play a positive influence on rice landrace variety diversity and genetic diversity. CONCLUSION Most China's rice landraces were conserved in the ethnic areas of southwest China. On-farm conservation can effectively promote the allelic variation and increase the genetic diversity of rice landraces over the past 35 years. Moreover, ethnic traditional culture practices are a crucial foundation to increase genetic diversity of rice landraces and implement on-farm conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanjie Wang
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Beijing, 100081 China
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081 China
| | - Yanli Wang
- Inner Mongolia Institute of Biotechnology Research, Hohhot, 010070 China
| | - Xiaodong Sun
- Heilongjiang Institute of Sericulture Research, Harbin, 150086 China
| | - Zhuoma Caiji
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081 China
| | - Jingbiao Yang
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081 China
| | - Di Cui
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Beijing, 100081 China
| | - Guilan Cao
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Beijing, 100081 China
| | - Xiaoding Ma
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Beijing, 100081 China
| | - Bing Han
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Beijing, 100081 China
| | - Dayuan Xue
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081 China
| | - Longzhi Han
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Beijing, 100081 China
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An Analysis of Social Seed Network and Its Contribution to On-Farm Conservation of Crop Genetic Diversity in Nepal. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015. [DOI: 10.1155/2015/312621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Social seed systems are important for the maintenance of crop genetic diversity on farm. This is governed by local and informal system in the community through a farmers’ network. This paper analyses these local seed systems through application of social network analysis tools and mappings and examines the network member and its stability over space and time in a small rice farming community in Nepal. NetDraw software is used for data analysis and network mapping. We found that the dynamic network structure had key role in provisioning of traditional varieties and maintaining of crop genetic diversity on farm. We identify and ascertain the key network members, constituted either as nodal or bridging (connector) farmers, occupying central position in the network who promote seed flow of local crop diversity, thus strengthening crop genetic resource diversity on farm.
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Redding L, Chetri DK, Lamichhane DK, Chay Y, Aldinger L, Ferguson J. Animal production systems of small farms in the Kaski district of Nepal. Trop Anim Health Prod 2012; 44:1605-13. [DOI: 10.1007/s11250-012-0114-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/17/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Determinants of farmers' choice for veterinary service providers in Nepal Mountains. Trop Anim Health Prod 2011; 44:1163-8. [PMID: 22203218 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-011-0053-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/15/2011] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
This study was aimed to analyze factors that affect farmers' choice for major actors of veterinary service providers in village areas of Kaski district of Nepal, with the objective of identifying choice-specific attributes which could be addressed for improving the penetration of professional veterinary services in village areas. The information was obtained from 125 farmers using a structured questionnaire. A proportional hazard model was used for data analysis because of its ability to accommodate the attributes of both the chooser and the choice simultaneously. The results showed that village animal health workers (VAHWs) were the most preferred service providers followed by veterinarians and mid-level technicians. The farmers' age and education level had a significant but inverse relationship with the probability of choosing any of the three service providers. From our study, we found that the main choice-specific attributes with a significant impact on the choice probability was the distance to the preferred service provider. Since there was a high preference for VAHW, this suggests the possibility of poorly trained service providers dominating veterinary service market in village areas of Kaski district. Hence, the efforts put forward in the legalization of VAHW system in Nepal should first address the constraints that obstruct the accessibility of professional veterinary service providers in village areas.
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Ahtiainen H, Pouta E. The value of genetic resources in agriculture: a meta-analysis assessing existing knowledge and future research needs. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIODIVERSITY SCIENCE, ECOSYSTEM SERVICES & MANAGEMENT 2011. [DOI: 10.1080/21513732.2011.593557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Heini Ahtiainen
- a Economic Research, MTT Agrifood Research Finland , Helsinki , Finland
| | - Eija Pouta
- a Economic Research, MTT Agrifood Research Finland , Helsinki , Finland
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