TETRAPLOID WHEAT GERMPLASM WITH A AND B GENOMES AND WHEAT IMPROVEMENT AT CNR-IGV

Tetraploid wheat germplasm with A and B genomes is preserved at the seed-bank of the National Research Council - lnstitute of Plant Genetics (CNR-IGV, fomerly Germplasm Institute) since the early 1970's. Nowadays, the bank preserves over 5876 seed samples of this germplasm, which were directly collected by exploration teams of the Institute or acquired through exchange with Intemational lnstitutions. Germplasm safeguarding is carried out within the frame of the European Cooperative Programme for Plant Genetic Resource (ECP/GR). Moreover, the CNR-IGV has contributed all its wheat samples to the Multilateral System of the lnternational Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA). The management of tetraploid wheat genetic resources is one of the key activities of the seed-bank. lt involves the ex situ and in situ conservation of genetic entities under threat, regeneration, characterization, evaluation, monitoring of seed viability and genetic integrity during storage, and storing of all data in appropriate data banks. The durun wheat collection is also safety duplicated at other three sites (USA, Japan and Russia). Sources of tetraploid wheat germplasm important for plant breeding were identified in all natural resources, wild and cultivated, landraces, primitive, obsolete, commercial varieties, genetic stocks. In particular species and subspecies of tetraploid wheats, with A and B genomes, have been evaluated recording specific traits, following the prescribed guidelines of ECPGR, and the genetic profiles traced by biochemical and molecular techniques. Within the years of activity of the Institute, useful genes were identified and successfully used for the development of improved varieties and breeding lines.