Role of Genebanking in the Era of Genomics

The global system for conservation of plant genetic resources (PGR) is a pan-continental network integrating more than 2000 national and international genebanks out of which 130 genebanks hold more than 10,000 accessions and eight have more than 100,000 accessions. As per the PGR Genesys platform, accessions conserved in ex situ genebanks comprise more than 4 million maintained by over 450 institutes across the globe. Accumulation of huge quantity of germplasm accessions of unknown value and genetic composition within genebanks made its inclusion in crop breeding, economically unmanageable. This article provides some of the new age tools and methodologies being applied for more eff ective management of genebanks.