Mini Core Germplasm Collections for Developing Climate Resilient Crop Cultivars and Achieving Enhanced Genetic Gains in Plant Breeding Programs

Abstract

Crop germplasm diversity contributes to developing improved crop cultivars aimed at increasing crop productivity to
meet future food security needs of world. The large size of germplasm collections and lack of reliable information
on traits of economic importance has resulted in low use (<1%) of germplasm. To facilitate realization of the
potential benefi ts of germplasm collections to broaden the genetic base of cultivars in many crops, the mini core
(~1% of the entire collection) concept was postulated and a development process proposed, to produce resources
recognized globally as an “International Public Good” (IPG). Mini core collections have been developed in
several crops and new diverse sources of genetic variation identifi ed for biotic and abiotic stresses, agronomic
and nutritional traits for use in crop improvement programs. Using genetically diverse sources scientists have
developed breeding lines with enhanced trait expression and higher genetic gains. Molecular characterization
of germplasm has revealed that phenotypic traits were as eff ective as molecular markers in sampling allelic
diversity to form mini core collections.