Ex. 2. Study of Germplasm of Various Crops

Ex.No.
: 2
STUDY OF GERMPLASM OF VARIOUS CROPS
Date :
Plant Genetic Resources or germplasm is the sum total of genetic variability present in the
crops / other useful plants etc. In other words, it is the total genetic material in the form of genes
manifesting at various levels of permutations and combinations in plant populations. These
variations both intra and inter-specific are brought about by evolutionary process that took place in
plants and cultivated crops in relation to selection pressures both biotic and abiotic in nature for
about thousands of years.
Significance of germplasm
It is the backbone of the agriculture and human subsistence in the world. It contributes
everything that is essential for human existence. It is a part of the universal ecosystem. CGR
comprising both crops and other useful plants had their origin with the event of domestication
resulting in origin of agriculture approximately 10,000 years back.
Owing to various uncontrollable factors such as improved farming methods using high input
farming technology and improved varieties and hybrids; changes in farming systems, crop priorities
and land use pattern; deforestation and environmental pollution all lead to unprecedented stress on
PGR comprising crops, their wild relatives and other useful plant species leading to their gradual
loss. This phenomenon is known as genetic erosion of PGR. The major aim of PGR work is to
check/prevent PGR erosion by collecting, conserving, studying and utilizing them properly by
scientific means.
Classification of plant germplasm
PGR can be of crops, their wild and weedy relatives and other useful plant species such
as medicinal plants, timber, food species etc. The CGR can be differentiated into land races, local
varieties, obsolete varieties, improved strains and wild and weedy relatives.
Morphological description of cultivated crops
The genetic resource materials would not be of much practical use until they have been fully
characterized and evaluated, and the attributes collected are readily made available to the breeders.
The process of germplasm characterization and evaluation begins with the use of an appropriate
descriptor list. The descriptor list can be compiled by the national organization and collection
manager, developed by a germplasm advisory committee or an existing list may be adopted. The
NBPGR (National Bureau Plant Genetic Resources) descriptor lists are comprehensive and widely
used by Indian curators. The descriptors allow the standardization of descriptor definition and thus
maintain uniformity in data processing and management.
Descriptor list
An example of common descriptors and descriptor states for characterization and evaluation
of cotton germplasm is given as follows:
Passport descriptor Regeneration descriptors Characterizationand

evaluation descriptors
1. Institute code 1. Accession number • Material type
2. Accession number 2. Population identification • Seed
3. Collecting number 3. Field plot number • Fruit
4. Genus 4. Multiplication / • Mature tree
5. Species generation site or location • Evaluation site
6. Subtaxa 5. Planting date • Evaluation year
7. Accession name 6. Cultural practice • Evaluation month
8. Country of origin 7. First harvesting date • Evaluator’s name
9. Location of collecting site 8. Last harvesting date
10. Latitude of collecting site
11. Longitude of collecting site
12. Elevation of collecting site
13.Collecting date of original sample
14. Status of sample
15. Collecting source
16. Donor institute code
17. Donor number
18. Sowing date/age
19. Transplanting date
Leaf characters Inflorescence and flower characters

• Immature leaf colour • Inflorescence behaviour
• Yellow • Terminal
• Pink • Axillary
• Light green • Inflorescence habit
• Green • Solitary
• Others (specify) • Cluster
• Mature leaf colour • Flower bud size
• Light green • Small
• Green • Intermediate
• Greyish-green • Large
• Greyish-yellow • Flower bud shape
• Mature leaf texture • Globose
• Papery • Ovoid
• Leathery • Oblong
• Leaf shape • Pedicel colour
• Ovate • Green
• Oblong • Redish-purple
• Elliptic • Purple
• Lanceolate • Pedicel length
• Leaf upper surface • Short
• Smooth • Intermediate
• Hairy • Long
• Leaf apex shape • Number of sepals
• Acute • Calyx pubescence
• Obtuse • Sparse
• Acuminate • Intermediate
• Cuspidate • Dense
• Leaf apex habit • Calyx margin
• Recurved • Ciliate
• Straight • Wavy
• Leaf base shape • Calyx type
• Attenuate (acute) • Imbricate
• Rounded • Free
• Obtuse • Receptacle shape
• Leaf margin • Spheroid
• Entire • Globose
• Wavy • Corolla colour
• Serrulate (Use colour chart)
• Denticulate • Corolla shape
• Leaf length (cm) • Shallowly cup- shaped
• Leaf width (cm) • Broad oval
• Leaf area (cm2) • Spathulate
• Leaf venation • Corolla pubescence
•Mid rib/venation with reference to lateral veins • Sparse
• Indistinct and appear sunken • Intermediate
• Distinct • Dense
• Leaf vestiture on lower surface • Number of petals
• Glabrous • Number of stamens
• Adpressed • Attachment of filament to anther
• Pubescent • Adaxial
• Villous • Lateral
• Leaf pubescence • Filament length (cm)
• Sparse • Anther length (cm)
• Intermediate • Relative height between
• Dense androecium
• Leaf waxiness and gynoecium
• Absent • Same height
• Present • Androecium higher than
• Petiole colour gynoecium
• Green • Gynoecium higher than
• Yellowish-green androecium
• Petiole length (cm) • Ovary type
• Bilocular
• Specify
• Ovary pubescence
• Sparse
• Intermediate
• Dense
• Stigma shape
• Capitate
• Clavate
• Lobed
Fruit characters Seed characters
• Fruit shape • Seed number
• Globose • Seed shape
• Ovoid • Round
• Oblong • Spherical
• Specify • Ovoid
• Other
• Fruit length (cm) • Seed colour
• Fruit diameter (cm) (Use colour chart)
• Thickness of pericarp (cm) • Seed length (cm)
• Pericarp colour • Seed width (cm)
(Use colour chart) • Seed weight
• Thickness of mesocarp (cm)
• Mesocarp colour
(Use colour chart)
• Number of carpels

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Ex.No.

Classification of plant germplasm

Passport descriptor Regeneration descriptors Characterizationand

Leaf characters Inflorescence and flower characters

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