Plant Genetic Resources

During 1994-95, the Plant Genetic Resources activities were limited to multiplication and rejuvenation of existing germplasm as the professional officer in charge of the program is away on long term training. Only 28 accessions of Bambara nut were received from the Republic of South Africa.

Currently the National Plant Genetic Resources Centre at Sebele maintains about 1 550 local accessions of both field crops and wild crop relatives, the latter comprising about 5% of the collection. The Centre also preserves about 528 exotic germplasm materials, most of which have already been locally evaluated.

It must be noted that beside the materials in the National Plant Genetic Resources Centre, individual researchers maintain significant number of germplasm materials as their working collection. The seed multiplication and rejuvenation activities for 1994-95 involved only 43 Bambara nut and one cowpea varieties planted in the fields.