Among the multiple components of the biodiversity, the plant genetic resources (P.G.R.) are, perhaps, the most important, here being included all the life forms in the vegetal field : the wild plants, the old cultivars, the landraces and the local populations, the weeds, the breed forms a.s.o. Unfortunately, simply from ignorance or from lack of storage conditions, many of these plants are threatened with extinction. This has happened at a moment when, due to the demographic explosion, its necessity is more actual than any time. As it was subjected for a long time to the natural factors of evolution, the local genetic material, containing in its hereditary structure very valuable genes, especially for adaptability, has a great importance in the breeding process.
The collection, the evaluation and the preservation of the genetic resources have become today one of the major problems of the humanity, they could play a decisive role in the food security.
Although rather late, the mankind has recently awakened to reality, trying to get out the deadlock, taking some measures to put in safe the P.G.R. in order to prevent the loss of those ones still remained. As a result, a series of the national and international institutes, government and nongovernment institutions have born, having as aim the taking of urgent measures for the conservation of the biodiversity.
The conservation of the genetic resources is made in situ and ex situ. The in situ conservation means to maintain the genetic resources in their natural habitats in which they set up and develop, while the ex situ conservation reffers to the genebanks and to the botanical gardens.
The conservation of the genetic resources in the genebanks is considered
the most advanced conservation form. The genebanks are special
institutions having as objectives the collection, the evaluation and the
conservation of the P.G.R.
The Suceava Genebank takes the responsability to
conserve the Romanian plant germplasm and, through international
collaboration, contributes to the safeguard of the world genetic
resources.
Plant genetic resources contribute to the food security constituting the most precious gift given to us by the nature.