Plant Gene Banks: Conservation of Genetic Resources

Sources of biodiversity include the variety of plant species, their intraspecific variation, and the variations among environments. Due to human activity and climate change, biodiversity has dramatically decreased in recent decades when compared to earlier ages. The gathering and preservation of genetic resources in regional gene banks serve as a defense for plant life against the consequences of climate change. The protection of genetic resources should guarantee the preservation of the gene pool of the widest range of species and come from a variety of sources. In addition to preserving endangered species, contemporary agriculture is increasingly concerned with safeguarding the genetic resources of crops’ wild relatives. Plants’ valuable genetic material is kept either on-site or off-site in gene banks for long-term storage. Seeds, spores, and pollen are the three plant explants that are most frequently used and kept in gene banks. Another method is to store genetic resources in sterile in vitro cells. Cryogenic storage of isolated plant pieces has also become more popular in recent years. Consequently, more and more cutting-edge research methods in the fields of proteomics, metabolomics, genetics, and epigenetics are being applied for this purpose. The question of whether storage conditions genuinely influence biological materials also plays a significant role. Plant gene banks are institutions that aim to conserve and protect genetic resources by collecting, preserving, providing access to plant genetic materials, and promote sustainable agricultural development. The operation, organization, and management of plant gene banks are crucial for the long-term preservation and utilization of plant genetic resources. Gene bank, also known as a gene bank or genetic resource bank, is a repository that stores genetic material such as DNA, seeds, and other biological samples. These samples are collected from various organisms and can be used for scientific research, conservation, and agricultural purposes. Gene bank plays a crucial role in preserving genetic diversity, which is important for maintaining the health and resilience of ecosystems and for improving crop productivity and sustainability. The genetic variety of plant and animal species depends on the existence of several gene banks, which store millions of samples, including seeds, tissues, and DNA. The major goals of managing gene banks are to ease the use of genetic resources and conserve and protect genetic variety.