Rice Genetic Resources at PhilRice Genebank: Conservation and Management
摘要
The Philippine Rice Research Institute-Genetic Resources Division (PhilRice-GRD) collects and conserves rice germplasm to ensure the availability of diverse rice genetic resources for future generations. This collection serves as a valuable source for direct utilization and breeding rice with improved quality and climate change resilience rice plants. The PhilRice-GRD focused on conserving valuable resources such as seeds, Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and data, making them easily accessible for direct utilization, research, and rice breeding. The facilities at PhilRice Genebank are specifically designed to safeguard the sustained conservation of valuable rice diversity. It adheres to international standards across various processes, including collection, registration of incoming germplasm collections, seed cleaning, viability testing, gradual drying, and packaging in standard foil packets for storage in medium term (10 °C) and duplicated in long-term storage(−20 °C). To further strengthen conservation efforts, the database system was upgraded alongside security enhancements, including installing closed-circuit television (CCTV) and access control measures. These innovations have improved the management, conservation, and accessibility of rice genetic resources. Additionally, the PhilRice-GRD systematically characterized the germplasm based on morphological and molecular traits, facilitating conservation, and selecting suitable phenotypes by farmers and breeders. It maintains the national collection of rice genetic resources, comprising 7268 accessions, ensuring the continued availability of valuable genetic diversity in sustainable rice production. This chapter provides an overview of the conservation and management techniques implemented by the PhilRice-GRD.