Report on Rice Germplasm Conservation Workshop

From 10-20 May 1990, IRRI and IBPGR cosponsored a Rice Germplasm Workshop held at IRRI. The Workshop's objectives were to assess the present status and future directions of global rice germplasm conservation and to further develop linkages among national and international centers. Among discussion items were the needs for future exploration and collection, to find commonalities and means of standardizing documentation systems, to develop an integrated approach to germplasm conservation and use, and to discuss research techniques.

Thirty-five participants came from 15 major rice growing countries of Asia, Africa, North and South America, IITA, CGIAR-TAC, IBPGR and IRRI. Round- table discussions were held on field collection activities in different countries, national plant genetic resources systems, capabilities of existing genebanks, management practices and constraints, seed preservation technology, documentation and data management, in-situ conservation, gene-pools in the genus Oryza, interdisciplinary evaluation, international testing network, reacarch on germplasm, use of germplasm, and linkage with biotechnology. Reports on current activities from three regional base collections (IITA, Japan and USA) were presented.

Recommendations made by three working groups covered plans for field collection, improved management practices especially on seed drying and containers, training needs, documentation systems and free exchange of information, and an international network approach to better conserve, document, evaluate and use rice germplasm. A Rice Germplasm Committee will be organized by IRRI-IBPGR to coordinate collaborative efforts and provide linkage between meetings. The proceedings and recommendations will be published before or during 1991.