Julkaisut

Rapporti

Nordic Flax: – A Report on the Evaluation and Characterization of 436 Flax Accessions Conducted in Southern Sweden 2024

NordGen, the Nordic Genetic Resource Center, is an organization dedicated to safeguarding the genetic resources of the Nordic region, with a focus on conservation and sustainable use in agriculture. NordGen manages a genebank that stores approximately 33,000 accessions (seed samples) from nearly 450 different plant species, including a notable collection of 436 flax accessions.

Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) has been an essential crop for centuries, with uses ranging from textiles to oil and industrial fibers. In the Nordic region, flax historically played a key role in linen production. However, the rise of industrialization, synthetic fibers, and cheaper cotton led to a decline in flax farming. Today, renewed interest in flax is driven by its potential for sustainable agriculture and eco-friendly textile production.NordGen’s flax collection represents a valuable and diverse genetic resource that can contribute to the revival of flax cultivation.

This report presents an overview of the evaluation and characterization of 436 flax accessions conducted in southern Sweden in 2024. The aim is to support the sustainable use and revival of flax cultivation in the Nordic region.

A significantly enhanced role for plant genetic resource centres in linking in situ and ex situ conservation to aid user germplasm access

Authors: Maxted, N., Adam-Blondon, A.-F., Aguilar, C. H., Barata, A. M., Bartha, B., Bocci, R., De Paola, D., Fitzgerald, H. S., Fresta, L. J., Fusani, P., Giuliano, G., Guzzon, F., Holzherr, P., Holubec, V., Iriondo Alegría, J. M., Labokas, J., Maggioni, L., Magos Brehm, J., Palmé, A., Phillips, J., Prohens, J., Raggi, L., Ralli, P., Rungis, D., Sarikyan, K., Šuštar-Vozlič, J., Thormann, I. and Zdunić, G.

Abstract: Plant genetic resources (PGR) serve as the cornerstone for global varietal enhancement and food security. However, these resources face significant threats, including diversity erosion and extinction, are often inadequately conserved, and frequently remain inaccessible for practical use. Traditionally, PGR have been primarily conserved through population seed samples stored ex situ in genebanks. In contrast, complementary in situ techniques – whether involving crop wild relatives in genetic reserves or crop landraces on-farm – have largely remained experimental. The demand from breeders for a broader diversity is driving a more integrated approach that combines ex situ and in situ methods. This paper posits that such an integrated strategy would be mutually advantageous for PGR, biodiversity and farmer-based conservation communities. As a foundation for future PGR science, we propose the three 'Principles of PGR Conservation and Use Congruence' and outline the practical processes involved in in situ and on-farm conservation. We also review the challenges associated with integrating ex situ and in situ conservation, specifically addressing how collaborative resource management can be established, how potential resource users can access in situ and on-farm conserved PGR, how to promote user access to in situ conserved populations, and the progress made thus far in integrating in situ and ex situ efforts. While it is acknowledged that full integration may be unrealistic without adequate resources for Genetic Resource Centres and the rectification of skill gaps, the potential to significantly enhance the long-term, sustainable conservation of PGR diversity holds profound existential benefits for humanity in the 21st century.

Tieteellinen artikkeli

An east–west distribution of genetic diversity in Nordic populations of caraway (Carum carvi L.) and its consequences for conservation prioritisation

Authors: Bernardo de Haro Reyes, Anna Palmé, Heli Fitzgerald, Magnus Göransson, Virva Lyytikäinen, Bjarke Madsen, Signe Normand, Hjörtur Thorbjörnsson, Urs Albert Treier & Jenny Hagenblad

Abstract:
The current global crisis of biodiversity loss calls for urgent conservation actions for many species, not the least wild species related to crop plants. These crop wild relatives are considered harbouring genetic diversity of major importance for future crop plant improvement, e.g. adaptation to climate change. Hence, their conservation needs to be a priority. To ensure the long-term conservation and to maximize the utility value of these species, it is important that as much of their genetic diversity as possible is conserved. Thus, the distribution of intraspecific diversity must be taken into consideration when planning conservation efforts. Caraway, Carum carvi L., has been cultivated since medieval times and is today one of the most important spice crops worldwide. In order to identify populations that would be of particular interest for in situ and ex situ conservation and for use in plant breeding we evaluated the geographic distribution of intraspecific diversity in populations of Carum carvi in the Nordic region (Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland). Using a genotyping by sequencing approach, we genotyped 198 individuals from 16 Nordic populations. The amount of intrapopulation genetic diversity was similar among populations (mean He = 0.29), and the diversity was structured in an east–westerly manner, probably reflecting colonisation patterns associated with different glacial refugia. In addition, some populations likely have a history shaped by human interventions. The results have important conservation implications and based on the outcome of this study, populations of conservation priority are suggested.

Vuosikatsaus

NordGen Annual Review 2024

The Nordic Genetic Resource Center (NordGen) is the Nordic countries’ genebank and knowledge center for genetic resources. NordGen is an organisation under the Nordic Council of Minister and works with the mission of conserving and facilitating the sustainable use of genetic resources linked to food, agriculture and forestry.

NordGen Annual Review 2024 provides a review of NordGen's work done in the past year.

Raportti, Manuaalinen

Hygg, sáa og smakka! – bóklingur til íblásturs at læra børn at velta grønt og korn til matna

This handbook for teaching children and youth about cultivation of food was designed within the project "See, Sow, Taste". This version is written in Faroese.

Raportti, Manuaalinen

Sjáðu, sáðu og smakkaðu! – hugmyndahandbók um kennslu í matjurtaræktun fyrir börn

This handbook for teaching children and youth about cultivation of food was designed within the project "See, Sow, Taste". This version is written in Icelandic.

Raportti, Manuaalinen

„Pamatyk, pasėk ir paragauk!“ – įkvepiantis vadovas, kaip mokyti vaikus auginti augalus maistui.

This handbook for teaching children and youth about cultivation of food was designed within the project "See, Sow, Taste". This version is written in Lithuanian.

Tieteellinen artikkeli

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault – conserving plant genetic resources for European and global food security

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is the largest safety backup of the world´s crop diversity. It offers safe storage for duplicates of seed samples conserved in genebanks worldwide. Since its opening in 2008, 123 institutes located in 87 different countries have deposited 1,331,458 seed samples of 6,297 crop and crop wild relative species in the Seed Vault. European institutes have very actively taken advantage of the opportunity to back up their genetic seed material. As of today, 38 institutes located in 30 different European countries have deposited 178,999 seed samples in the Seed Vault. Details about seed samples, depositors and species are publicly available through the Seed Portal website. The seed samples that are deposited in the Seed Vault remain the property of the depositing institute. The germplasm is at their disposal if they should need it, e.g. if the material in their home collections is damaged or inaccessible. The Seed Vault has already proved its value and importance for securing plant genetic resources when the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), formerly having its headquarters and genebank in Aleppo, Syria had to relocate their genebank activities, due to the Syrian Civil War. Deposited seeds withdrawn from the Seed Vault formed the basis for establishing new genebank functions at ICARDA units in Morocco and Lebanon.

Raportti

Nordic Crop Wild Relative (CWR) Conservation for a More Resilient Agriculture

This report summarises the findings from a Nordic project with the long-term goal to contribute to a more sustainable and resilient agriculture by enhancing the conservation of Nordic Crop Wild Relatives (CWR) and facilitating their use. In this manner, the project improves long-term access to genetic resources that can be used to adapt agricultural plants to climate change and other future challenges. Activities include 1) species distribution modelling under different climate change scenarios, 2) inventories to determine presence and status of CWR populations in selected protected areas, 3) seed collection for long-term ex situ conservation and access from NordGen, 4) genetic diversity analysis in selected CWR, 5) Nordic cooperation and networking activities, and 6) communication and knowledge exchange. In conclusion, the project has enhanced the conservation and access to Nordic CWR, and increased the knowledge on their diversity, status, distribution, and impact due to climate change. It has strengthened the scientific foundation for conservation efforts and inspired national actions. In addition, Nordic cooperation on this topic has improved, and communication has reached a diverse set of stakeholders, including conservation professionals, policymakers, scientists, and the interested general public.

Politiikkasuositukset

Nordic wild plant genetic resources – a policy brief

Crop wild relatives (CWR) are species or subspecies of plants that are closely related to our cultivated crops. As such, they have the potential to contribute beneficial properties to crops. They are genetically diverse, locally adapted and represent a potential source of valuable traits for adapting crops to changing environmental conditions and human needs.

By 2050, global food production will need to have doubled compared to the turn of the millennium. Accelerating climate change and continuing alarming loss of biodiversity and habitats emphasize the acute need to adopt and implement effective policy measures to prevent further loss of valuable genetic diversity. In addition, safeguarding and properly utilizing these wild genetic resources may contribute to strengthening Nordic plant breeding and, consequently, its competitiveness.All Nordic countries are Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and thereby bound by decisions taken by the Conference. One decisive policy instrument is the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted in 2022. With respect to wild genetic diversity, the framework both sets a global goal for 2050 and a specific target for 2030. It is now time for the Nordic countries to implement these policies at the national level.

The following set of recommendations – addressing the joint Nordic and the national level, respectively – is the result of a project within the Nordic Council of Ministers Nature-Based Solutions programme. In addition, essential recommendations from the joint Nordic project Access and Rights to Genetic Resources: A Nordic Approach (II), have also been considered.

Kaikki

Nordic Conference on Genetic Resources: Possibilities and Urgency – Report from conference arranged by NordGen in Hyllie, Malmö

December 11, 2024, NordGen arranged a conference titled ‘Nordic Conference on Genetic Resources: Possibilities and Urgency’ in Malmö, Sweden. The conference was also streamed worldwide. This report contains summaries of the conference findings and recommendations. The conference was opened by the Swedish Minister of Rural Affairs, Peter Kullgren, and the Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers, Karen Ellemann and featured 12 speakers from a wide range of areas connected to different fields of genetic resources. About 140 participants attended the conference on-site in Malmö and almost 160 registered for the online streaming.

The conference’s morning session provided reports from the recent COP16 deliberations in Cali, Colombia followed by lectures and discussions on how climate change affects the Nordic region and how NordGen and genetic resource sin general can contribute to climate adaptation and the green transition. The afternoon sessions included insights from the business side, plant breeders, researchers etc. and provided several examples of how genetic resources contribute to a more sustainable, resilient and efficient society.

The key takeaways from the conference were that genetic resources are excellent tools for the green transition. However, the Nordic collaboration needs to be maintained and communication accelerated to reach viable change.

Raportti

The first status report on the conservation of farm animal genetic resources (AnGR) in the Nordics

This report presents the status of all Nordic native breeds and offers the first comprehensive overview of the 40-year journey in official Nordic collaboration for conservation Nordic farm animal genetic resources (AnGR). It examines the diversity, distribution, and conservation status of these farm animal breeds. By presenting the current methods used for conservation, it also highlights internal and external pressures in the Nordic region.

Conservation efforts over the past 40 years have been fruitful; thus, the report also showcases successful conservation efforts by various stakeholders. The differences in conservation strategies among Nordic countries are also reported, particularly the criteria for classifying breeds as protected.

We trust that this report addresses various needs for information and enhances understanding of the continuous necessity to protect native breeds and the critical importance of data collection in these efforts. Let this report inspire readers to recognize and promote the conservation of the national heritage of the Nordic countries.

Tieteellinen artikkeli

The Jan Sjödin faba bean mutant collection: morphological and molecular characterization.

Background
Plant mutagenesis creates novel alleles, thereby increasing genetic and phenotypic diversity. The availability of the faba bean (Vicia faba L.) reference genome and a growing set of additional genomic resources has increased the scientific and practical value of mutant collections. We aimed to genotype and morphologically phenotype a historical faba bean mutant collection developed and characterized by Jan Sjödin (1934–2023) over half a century ago in order to increase its value to researchers. The collection was genotyped using high-throughput single-primer enrichment technology (SPET) assays.

Results
We used 11,073 informative single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers spanning the faba bean genome to genotype 52 mutant lines along with the background line, cv. Primus. A range of flower, seed, leaf, and stipule mutations were observed. The analysis of population structure revealed a shallow structure with no major subpopulations. Principal component and cluster analyses revealed, to a minor extent, that the mutants clustered by their phenotype.

Conclusions
The mutants’ phenotypic variation and shallow structure indicate that the Sjödin faba bean collection has the potential to play a significant role in faba bean breeding and in genetic and functional studies.

Raportti

The NordFrost Project Report – Farm Animal Gene Banks in the Nordic Region: Added Value Through Nordic Cooperation

The network project titled “Nordic animal gene banks – added value through Nordic cooperation” (NordFrost), has aimed to strengthen the collaboration and competence for ex-situ conservation of animal genetic resources (AnGR) in the Nordic region. This project was launched as a case study following the Horizon2020 funded IMAGE project (2016-2020) where it was concluded that there is a broad variation in the current state of practices and the distribution of responsibilities related to cryoconservation activities between the Nordic countries.
The national strategies on conserving AnGR emphasise ex-situ conservation in varying degrees. However, collection of samples, metadata, back-up storage of material or common strategies and action plans for ex-situ conservation on a regional level does not exist. This makes conservation of AnGR an exposed area that threatens the resilience of Nordic food security. By developing new collaborative models, strengthening Nordic infrastructure, and enhancing the development of Nordic strategies for ex-situ conservation in the region, this network will contribute to increased sustainability for populations and future Nordic food security.

Vuosikatsaus

NordGen Annual Review 2023

The Nordic Genetic Resource Centre (NordGen) is the Nordic countries’ gene bank and knowledge center for genetic resources. NordGen is an organisation under the Nordic Council of Minister and works with the mission of conserving and facilitating the sustainable use of genetic resources linked to food, agriculture and forestry.

NordGen Annual Review 2023 provides a review of NordGen's work done in the past year.

Raportti

NordGen PPP-report 2021-2023

The Nordic Genetic Resource Center (NordGen) is the joint genebank and knowledge center for genetic resources in the Nordic countries. Our mission is to conserve and promote the sustainable use of genetic diversity among animals, forests and plants that are important for Nordic agriculture and forestry.

NordGen PPP-report 2021-2023 provides a information about projects conducted within the framework of The Nordic Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for pre-breeding during the years 2021-2023.

Tieteellinen artikkeli

Multi-location trials and population-based genotyping reveal high diversity and adaptation to breeding environments in a large collection of red clover.

Nay MM, Grieder C, Frey LA, Amdahl H, Radovic J, Jaluvka L, Palmé A, Skøt L, Ruttink T, Kölliker R

Tieteellinen artikkeli

A Flock of One’s Own: Nordic Human-Mountain Cattle Kinship-Making Practices.

Charlotte Kroløkke, Anne Nørkjær-Bang, Ulla Ovaska, and Mervi Honkatukia.

This article employs critical cultural and anthropological perspectives to investigate the ways in which Nordic mountain cattle are kinned and become positioned as kin. It does so by empirically foregrounding photographic material, elicited from the 3MC Traditional Transboundary Cattle Breeds’ photo competition, along with photo elicited interviews with 13 of the participating photographers. Nordic mountain cattle become “kinned” as “mothers,” “family members,” “friends,” “colleagues,” and “pets” through a range of kinship-making practices such as naming, gendering, and anthropomorphizing cattle with distinct human-like personalities. The article concludes by turning to the affective values and cultural logics that situate mountain cattle as forms of Nordic cultural heritage. In these entanglements, mountain cattle resurrect Nordic cultural heritage and temporality facilitating new Nordic naturecultures in which humans are simultaneously (re)connected to nature and cultivated as future (new) citizens.

Raportti

Seed Longevity and Survival of Seed Borne Diseases After 35 Years Conservation in Permafrost: – Report From the 100 Year Storage Experiment

The Nordic Gene Bank (predecessor to today's plant section of The Nordic Genetic Resource Center, NordGen) established the 100 year seed storage experiment in Coal mine no. 3 outside Longyearbyen, Svalbard, in 1986. The experiment was established with the aim to monitor the longevity of seeds in this Nordic back-up seed collection that were deposited in the coal mine from 1984 and to gain general knowledge about the longevity of seed stored under permafrost conditions, as well as studying the survival of seed borne plant pathogens.

Seed samples have regularly been withdrawn for analysis according to a fixed withdrawal and analyze plan, that will continue until the last samples are analyzed in 2086.

Raportti

Action Plan for the Conservation of the Faroese Horse

Horses were brought to the Faroe Islands by Norse settlers in the 9th and 10th centuries. Over the centuries, the geographical remoteness in the North Atlantic Ocean forced these horses to adapt to their surroundings. Only the horses that could withstand the weather survived, and the Faroe Islands became home to a horse breed that was small, strong, hardy, and agile. The small horses were used by farmers for agricultural purposes and occasionally for transport between villages. Most of them roamed the mountains all year and no targeted breeding took place. The oldest record available of horses on the Faroe Islands is from 1857, which counted 844 horses with 396 mares, and 476 foals and stallions.

Exportation of the horses to coal mines in Britain combined with modernization of the agriculture on the Faroe Islands, resulted in a breed that nearly went extinct. By the 1960s, there were less than ten horses of the breed left alive. A rescue operation was initiated, and suitable horses for breeding were used, however many of them were already related. All Faroese horses alive today, are descendants of only four individual horses.

In 1978, the Faroese Horse Association (Felagið Føroysk Ross) was established to conserve the Faroese indigenous horse breed and they have kept a studbook ever since. In 2018, the online pedigree registration system Føroya Fongur was created, in which online access is provided to the studbook with extensive information about the Faroese horse breed.

By the end of 2023 there were 82 living Faroese horses. The breed can thank their survival to the hard work and dedication from individual horse owners and enthusiast through the years, and through the work of the Faroese Horse Association. You could say that the conservation of the Faroese horse this far is a success story as the breed has managed to survive and increase in numbers over the years. However, there are still several big challenges and threats facing this small and hardy breed. There is a critical need to act today to secure that the breed will be around for future generations as well. The Faroese horse is, after all, a living and breathing part of the Faroese cultural heritage.

All Nordic countries, including the Faroe Islands, have adopted The Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources (GPA) established by FAO in 2007. This framework obligates all parties to contribute to the conservation, sustainable use and development of animal genetic resources. One of the main areas of concern expressed in the GPA, is that there is too little research and information about many of the native farm animal breeds. Increased characterization, involving phenotypic, genetic, and historical information on breeds is needed (FAO, 2007).

The purpose of the Action Plan for the Conservation of the Faroese Horse is to highlight concrete actions and measures that need be implemented to conserve the horse breed for the future.

Tieteellinen artikkeli

Parallel Lives: Human–Cow Entanglements at a Finnish Prison Farm

C Kroløkke, M Honkatukia

This article investigates cow caretaking practices in a Finnish prison and living gene bank. Building upon work in Feminist Science and Technology Studies, Critical Animal Studies, and Critical Heritage Studies, we seek to understand how human and nonhuman animal lives are partially folded together, while also discussing the worlds cultivated in a space of conservation and incarceration. Empirically, the article draws upon multispecies ethnography undertaken during two separate visits to Pelso Prison in central Finland. We conclude that cows emerge as not simply working animals. They are viewed as valuable genetic material vital to the Finnish nation state as well as given names and granted personalities. Meanwhile, in the company of an endangered cattle breed, inmates gain new value as care-workers and conservationists “saving” the breed. In this space of exception, precarious interspecies lives are interwoven.

Tieteellinen artikkeli

Complementary Analysis and Implementation Plan for Conservation of Crop Wild Relatives in Finland

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Open AccessArticle
Complementary Analysis and Implementation Plan for Conservation of Crop Wild Relatives in Finland
by Heli Fitzgerald 1,*,Elina Kiviharju 2,Anna Palmé 3ORCID andMarko Hyvärinen 1ORCID
1
Botany Unit, Finnish Museum of Natural History, LUOMUS, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 7, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
2
Natural Resources Institute Finland, Luke, 31600 Jokioinen, Finland
3
Nordic Genetic Resource Center, NordGen, 234 56 Alnarp, Sweden
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Plants 2023, 12(18), 3313; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12183313
Submission received: 23 May 2023 / Revised: 6 September 2023 / Accepted: 14 September 2023 / Published: 19 September 2023
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conserving and Utilizing the Genetic Resources of Crop Wild Relatives)
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Abstract
Crop wild relatives (CWR) are valuable wild plant species that can be used as genetic resources providing adaptive traits to crop plants and therefore they play an important role in future food security. This paper describes in situ and ex situ conservation planning of CWR species in Finland and includes the following parts: (a) drafting of the national CWR priority list, (b) undertaking the in situ conservation gap analysis and (c) identifying ex situ conservation gaps and multi-species collecting sites for the CWR in Finland. As a result of the study, essential information was acquired, which will enhance future planning of active science-based practical conservation of CWR in Finland. Based on the new data and earlier work, a number of conservation recommendations are presented. This national work has been carried out in connection with the larger Nordic regional CWR co-operation.
Keywords: crop wild relatives; plant genetic resources; in situ conservation; ex situ conservation

Raportti

Statistics: Forest Seeds and Plants in the Nordic Region – Version 2023

The Nordic Genetic Resource Center (NordGen) is the joint genebank and knowledge center for genetic resources in the Nordic countries. Our mission is to conserve and promote the sustainable use of genetic diversity among animals, forests and plants that are important for Nordic agriculture and forestry.

Statistics: Forest Seeds and Plants in the Nordic Region – Version 2023 is the second edition in a biennial statistics report on forest seed and plant material in the Nordic countries. The first edition was published in 2021. This edition has been expanded by including more statistics and more species than the first report, as well as including more recent data from the years 2020 and 2021. The report compiles statistics and reports contributed by representatives of each country in the NordGen Forest Regeneration Council.

Tieteellinen artikkeli

Limited genetic changes observed during in situ and ex situ conservation in Nordic populations of red clover (Trifolium pratense)

Introduction: In situ and ex situ conservation are the two main approaches for preserving genetic diversity. The advantages and disadvantages of the two approaches have been discussed but their genetic effects have not been fully evaluated.

Methods: In this study we investigate the effects of the two conservation approaches on genetic diversity in red clover. Seed samples collected from wild populations in Sweden and Norway in 1980, their subsequent generations created during seed regeneration at the gene bank and samples recollected from the same location as the original samples, were analyzed with microsatellite markers, alongside reference samples from cultivars.

Results: Overall, there was a differentiation between cultivars and the wild material and between wild material from Sweden and Norway. In general, the original collections clustered together with the later generations of the same accession in the gene bank, and with the recollected samples from the same location, and the level of diversity remained the same among samples of the same accession. Limited gene flow from cultivated varieties to the wild populations was detected; however, some wild individuals are likely to be escapees or affected by gene flow.

Discussion: In conclusion, there were examples of genetic changes within individual accessions both in situ and ex situ, as is also to be expected in any living population. However, we observed only limited genetic changes in both in situ and ex situ conservation over the generations included in this study and with the relatively large populations used in the ex situ conservation in the gene bank at NordGen.

Tieteellinen artikkeli

Assessment of Genetic Diversity and Protein Content of Scandinavian Peas (Pisum sativum)

We produced homogeneous lines of 227 pea accessions from the Nordic Genetic Resource Center via single seed descent. The genetic diversity among these, mostly Scandinavian accessions, was investigated using three microsatellite markers, A9, AC58 and AA5. The microsatellites were highly informative and separated 153 of 194 accessions on a Neighbor Joining topology. The high polymorphism information content (PIC) values between 0.87 and 0.91 indicated that the gene bank material contains a large number of pea accessions with different breeding histories. The peas were grown in the field for two years and seed protein content showed variation between 9.3% and 34.1% over the years and accessions, respectively. The mean thousand seed weight was 152.05 g. More than 10 accessions had a protein content above 28%, showing that the collection has potential as breeding nursery for high-protein pea cultivars.
Keywords: pea; Pisum sativum L.; SSR markers; PIC; microsatellites; genetic diversity; Neighbor Joining tree; protein content; thousand seed weight

Vuosikatsaus

NordGen Annual Review 2022

NordGen Annual Review 2022 describes NordGen's activities and results during the year. Among other things, this was a year when we inaugurated our new head office, finalised a strategic period and launched, organised and participated in a wide range of activities, projects and events.

Raportti

Access and Rights to Genetic Resources: A Nordic Approach (II)

In 2003, the Nordic Council of Ministers issued the report “Access and Rights to Genetic Resources: A Nordic Approach”. Considering the international framework developed on access to genetic resources and benefit sharing from its use, the report and the ministerial follow-up, the Kalmar Declaration, provided a set of recommendations on how the Nordic countries and the Nordic Gene Bank should respond to this development regarding different types of genetic resources. Since then, several new and relevant international developments have occurred. This has created a need for renewed awareness and new recommendations on the Nordic approach to access and rights to genetic resources by the Nordic countries and The Nordic Genetic Resource Center (NordGen). In this updated report, several new issues are addressed such as for example the digitalization of genetic information and new international agreements like the Nagoya Protocol and the implementation of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

Raportti

New FAO guidelines for the management of animal genetic resources

PJ Boettcher, P Ajmone-Marsan, R Baumung, J Boes, L Colli, C Ginja, M Honkatukia, J Kantanen, G Leroy, JA Lenstra

Biotechnology offers powerful tools for the management of livestock genetic diversity. Genomics, bioinformatics, reproductive technologies and tools for cryopreservation of germplasm are particularly important. These biotechnologies have undergone notable advancements in recent years. Developing capacities and sharing expertise are two ways by which the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) supports its member nations. For these reasons, FAO has drafted two new guidelines, on: (1) genomic characterization; and (2) cryoconservation. The guidelines update previous versions from the early 2010s by providing information on exploitation of relevant recent biotechnological developments. They were prepared in collaboration with: (1) members of the International Society for Animal Genetics; and (2) partners of the IMAGE research consortium, including NordGen.

Tieteellinen artikkeli

Carcass characteristics of Nordic native cattle breeds

Therkildsen, M., Vestergaard, M., Kargo, M., Keto, L., Ertbjerg, P., Thorkelsson, G., Gudjónsdóttir, M., Kjetså, M., Honkatukia, M., Egelandsdal, B., Svartedal, N., Røe, M., Fikse, F. W., Karlsson, A. H. and Hessle, A.

Native livestock breeds are part of the history of the Nordic people and comprise a resource for future food production. In this study, net gain and carcass characteristics of two Danish, three Finnish, one Icelandic, six Norwegian and five Swedish native cattle breeds were retrieved and compared to commercial breeds: two beef breeds and two dairy breeds. Breed data were collected from national databases and sorted into six animal categories: young bull, bull, steer, heifer, young cow and cow, for which means and standard deviations were calculated within each country. The native breeds ranged from small-sized milking type breeds with low net gain, carcass weights and EUROP classification to larger multipurpose breeds with high net gains, carcass weights and EUROP classification.
All Finnish and most of the Norwegian and Swedish native breeds had lower net gain and carcass weight than the dairy breeds in the same category and country, but with similar carcass conformation and fatness scores. The two Danish native breeds had higher net gain, carcass weight and conformation class than the reference dairy breed, but lower than the reference beef breeds. The net gain and carcass traits of the Icelandic native breed were similar to the smallest-sized native breeds from the other countries. The carcass traits of the native breeds indicate that they have comparative advantages in an extensive production system based on forage and marginal grasslands. They may also succeed better in the value-added markets than in mainstream beef production.

Raportti

Innovations in cryoconservation of animal genetic resources: Practical guide

The livestock sector faces a range of challenges, including climate change, emerging diseases, competition for natural resources and evolving demand for animal-source foods, which is increasing globally, especially in developing countries. Genetic diversity of livestock is a key resource for allowing livestock keepers to address these challenges, but this diversity has been in a state of decline. The diminishing genetic diversity thus represents yet another obstacle for sustainable livestock production. Cryoconservation (i.e. ex situ – in vitro conservation) of genetic resources through gene banking provides one of the most powerful tools governments and other stakeholders have to manage genetic diversity in both the short and long term and thereby provide future generations with the tools to meet the challenges ahead.

Tieteellinen artikkeli

Diversity and population structure of Nordic potato cultivars and breeding clones.

Background
The genetic diversity and population structure of breeding germplasm is central knowledge for crop improvement. To gain insight into the genetic potential of the germplasm used for potato breeding in a Nordic breeding program as well as all available accessions from the Nordic genebank (NordGen), 133 potato genotypes were genotyped using the Infinium Illumina 20 K SNP array. After SNP filtering, 11 610 polymorphic SNPs were included in the analysis. In addition, data from three important breeding traits – percent dry matter and uniformity of tuber shape and eye – were scored to measure the variation potato cultivars and breeding clones.

Results
The genetic diversity among the genotypes was estimated using principal coordinate analysis based on the genetic distance between individuals, as well as by using the software STRUCTURE. Both methods suggest that the collected breeding material and the germplasm from the gene-bank are closely related, with a low degree of population structure between the groups. The phenotypic distribution among the genotypes revealed significant differences, especially between farmer’s cultivars and released cultivars and breeding clones. The percent heterozygosity was similar between the groups, with a mean average of 58–60%. Overall, the breeding germplasm and the accessions from the Nordic genebank seems to be closely related with similar genetic background.

Conclusion
The genetic potential of available Nordic potato breeding germplasm is low, and for genetic hybridization purposes, genotypes from outside the Nordic region should be employed.

Manuaalinen, Raportti

Cultivation Manual: Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in the Nordic and Baltic Region

The Nordic Genetic Resource Centre (NordGen) is the Nordic countries’ gene bank and knowledge center for genetic resources. NordGen is an organisation under the Nordic Council of Minister and works with the mission of conserving and facilitating the sustainable use of genetic resources linked to food, agriculture and forestry.
”Cultivation Manual: Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in the Nordic and Baltic Region” provides knowledge on cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants.

Vuosikatsaus

NordGen Annual Review 2021

The Nordic Genetic Resource Centre (NordGen) is the Nordic countries’ gene bank and knowledge center for genetic resources. NordGen is an organisation under the Nordic Council of Minister and works with the mission of conserving and facilitating the sustainable use of genetic resources linked to food, agriculture and forestry.

NordGen Annual Review 2021 provides a review of NordGen’s work done in the past year.

Tieteellinen artikkeli

Optimum contribution selection (OCS) analyses prompted successful conservation actions for Faroese horse population

Anne Kettunen, Signa Kallsoy Joensen and Peer Berg.

Faroese horse, an endangered indigenous horse breed, is a part of the cultural and societal heritage of the Faroe Islands. Population history describes a severe bottleneck, prompting for quantification of the genetic diversity (level of inbreeding, probability of gene origin, effective population size) and assessment of sustainable conservation potential (Optimum Contribution Selection, OCS) of the Faroese horse population.

Tietoaineisto

The Nordic Priority Crop Wild Relative Dataset

The aim of this dataset is to provide a list of the Crop Wild Relatives
(CWR) in the Nordic region that are most important for future food
security, and to provide basic data on geographic distribution, gene pool
affinity, invasiveness, and threat level. The dataset can serve as a basis
for Nordic level, as well as national level, conservation planning and
implementation.

Raportti

Statistics: Forest Seeds and Plants in the Nordic Region

The Nordic Genetic Resource Center (NordGen) is the joint genebank and knowledge center for genetic resources in the Nordic countries. Our mission is to conserve and promote the sustainable use of genetic diversity among animals, forests and plants that are important for Nordic agriculture and forestry.

Statistics: Forest Seeds and Plants in the Nordic Region is a report with statistics on forest seeds and plant material in the Nordic countries. The report is primarily based on country reports (2013-2020), from the Nordic cooperation, through NordGen Forest Regeneration Council.

Tieteellinen artikkeli

The Conservation of Native Domestic Animal Breeds in Nordic Countries: From Genetic Resources to Cultural Heritage and Good Governance

Ulla Ovaska, Auli Bläuer, Charlotte Kroløkke, Maria Kjetså, Juha Kantanen and Mervi Honkatukia.

This article examines the extent to which farmers and stakeholders recognise the genetic and cultural significance of conservation, and how the requirements of good governance are met in current conservation arrangements. Moreover, we contemplate the potential to amalgamate the management of animal genetic resources and their cultural environment.

Tieteellinen artikkeli

Trait Expression and Environmental Responses of Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Genetic Resources Targeting Cultivation in the Arctic

In the Arctic part of the Nordic region, cultivated crops need to specifically adapt to adverse and extreme climate conditions, such as low temperatures, long days, and a short growing season. Under the projected climate change scenarios, higher temperatures and an earlier spring thaw will gradually allow the cultivation of plants that could not be previously cultivated there. For millennia, Pea (Pisum sativum L.) has been a major cultivated protein plant in Nordic countries but is currently limited to the southern parts of the region. However, response and adaptation to the Arctic day length/light spectrum and temperatures are essential for the productivity of the pea germplasm and need to be better understood. This study investigated these factors and identified suitable pea genetic resources for future cultivation and breeding in the Arctic region. Fifty gene bank accessions of peas with a Nordic landrace or cultivar origin were evaluated in 2-year field trials at four Nordic locations in Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and Norway (55° to 69° N). The contrasting environmental conditions of the trial sites revealed differences in expression of phenological, morphological, crop productivity, and quality traits in the accessions. The data showed that light conditions related to a very long photoperiod partly compensated for the lack of accumulated temperature in the far north. A critical factor for cultivation in the Arctic is the use of cultivars with rapid flowering and maturation times combined with early sowing. At the most extreme site (69°N), no accession reached full maturation. Nonetheless several accessions, predominantly landraces of a northern origin, reached a green harvest state. All the cultivars reached full maturation at the sub-Arctic latitude in northern Sweden (63°N) when plants were established early in the season. Seed yield correlated positively with seed number and aboveground biomass, but negatively with flowering time. A high yield potential and protein concentration of dry seed were found in many garden types of pea, confirming their breeding potential for yield. Overall, the results indicated that pea genetic resources are available for breeding or immediate cultivation, thus aiding in the northward expansion of pea cultivation. Predicted climate changes would support this expansion.

Raportti

NordGen PPP-report 2018-2020

In the Nordic countries some of the world’s northernmost agricultural areas are located. Agriculture and horticulture in the Nordic countries require a plant breeding which develops varieties adapted to the particular growing conditions of the high north in terms of a demanding climate. Over time, structural changes in the seed industry led to fewer Nordic breeding companies and as a consequence increased dependency on large multinational companies. In this context, the first steps were taken to strengthen the Nordic collaboration within plant breeding and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for PreBreeding was born. This folder compiles information about the four PPP-pre-breeding projects which have been active during the third period between 2018 to 2020 and what is expected to come in the future.

Vuosikatsaus

NordGen Annual Review 2020

NordGen Annual Review 2020 describes NordGen's operations during the year.

Tieteellinen artikkeli

Trait characterization of genetic resources reveals useful variation for the improvement of cultivated Nordic red clover.

Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is the most important forage legume in the Nordic region, but its utilization is limited by poor persistency. The improvement of cultivated red clover can potentially take advantage of the numerous wild populations and landraces conserved in gene banks; however, there is often limited information available on the phenotypic and genetic characteristics of this material. We characterized 48 populations conserved at NordGen for a number of traits and compared them to commercial cultivars. The material was evaluated in field trials at four locations over two years and in an experiment under controlled conditions. Considerable variation was identified, with stem length, growth type and flowering date having the highest broad sense heritabilities. Traits related to plant size were strongly associated with late flowering and upright growth and differed between landraces/cultivars on the one hand and wild populations on the other. There was a large genotype by environment interaction on winter survival, which only partially correlated with freezing tolerance under controlled conditions. A majority of gene bank accessions exceeded the commercial cultivars in winter survival and freezing tolerance and can therefore be a genetic resource for future improvement of these traits. The phenotypic variation among accessions was associated with two main axes of climatic variation at the collection site. Petiole length of young plants under controlled conditions as well as plant size in the field increased with increasing summer temperature and decreasing summer precipitation, while number of leaves and an apparent vernalization requirement, recorded under controlled conditions, increased with decreasing annual and winter temperature. We discuss the implications these results have for collection, conservation and utilization of red clover genetic resources in the Nordic region.

Tieteellinen artikkeli

Comparison of bovine milk oligosaccharides in native North European cattle breeds

Milk oligosaccharides are of high interest due to their bioactive properties. This study is the first to characterise milk oligosaccharides from native North European cattle breeds, as represented by 80 milk samples collected from eight native breeds originated from Norway (Norwegian Doela cattle and Norwegian Telemark cattle), Sweden (Swedish Mountain cattle), Denmark (Danish Red anno 1970), Iceland (Icelandic cattle), Lithuania (native Lithuanian Black and White) and Finland (Western Finncattle and Eastern Finncattle). Using high-performance liquid-chromatography chip/quadrupole time-of-flight mass-spectrometry, 18 unique monosaccharide compositions and a multitude of isomers were identified. No N-glycolylneuraminic acid was identified among these breeds. Western Finncattle milk was most abundant in neutral, acidic and fucosylated oligosaccharides. Further, Eastern Finncattle milk was significantly higher in acidic oligosaccharides and Icelandic cattle milk significantly higher in fucosylated oligosaccharides, compared to the mean. This study highlights specific native breeds of particular interest for future exploitation of milk oligosaccharides and breeding strategies.

Tieteellinen artikkeli

A Genome-Wide Genetic Diversity Scan Reveals Multiple Signatures of Selection in a European Soybean Collection Compared to Chinese Collections of Wild and Cultivated Soybean Accessions

Targeted and untargeted selections including domestication and breeding efforts can reduce genetic diversity in breeding germplasm and create selective sweeps in crop genomes. The genomic regions at which selective sweeps are detected can reveal important information about signatures of selection. We have analyzed the genetic diversity within a soybean germplasm collection relevant for breeding in Europe (the EUCLEG collection), and have identified selective sweeps through a genome-wide scan comparing that collection to Chinese soybean collections. This work involved genotyping of 480 EUCLEG soybean accessions, including 210 improved varieties, 216 breeding lines and 54 landraces using the 355K SoySNP microarray. SNP calling of 477 EUCLEG accessions together with 328 Chinese soybean accessions identified 224,993 high-quality SNP markers. Population structure analysis revealed a clear differentiation between the EUCLEG collection and the Chinese materials. Further, the EUCLEG collection was sub-structured into five subgroups that were differentiated by geographical origin. No clear association between subgroups and maturity group was detected. The genetic diversity was lower in the EUCLEG collection compared to the Chinese collections. Selective sweep analysis revealed 23 selective sweep regions distributed over 12 chromosomes. Co-localization of these selective sweep regions with previously reported QTLs and genes revealed that various signatures of selection in the EUCLEG collection may be related to domestication and improvement traits including seed protein and oil content, phenology, nitrogen fixation, yield components, diseases resistance and quality. No signatures of selection related to stem determinacy were detected. In addition, absence of signatures of selection for a substantial number of QTLs related to yield, protein content, oil content and phenological traits suggests the presence of substantial genetic diversity in the EUCLEG collection. Taken together, the results obtained demonstrate that the available genetic diversity in the EUCLEG collection can be further exploited for research and breeding purposes. However, incorporation of exotic material can be considered to broaden its genetic base.

Tietoaineisto

List of Swedish priority Crop Wild Relative taxa. Version 28 September.

Aim: to provide national crop wild relative (CWR) priority list for conservation planning and action. The Swedish CWR priority list was based on the Nordic CWR checklist.

Method: Food and forage wild relative were prioritized according to their socioeconomic value and utilization potential. Single taxa were included based on status of threat.

Results: The dataset provides following information for each taxon: scientific name and author, common name in Swedish, nativity status and the name of the crop the wild taxon is related to. The dataset also includes information on the crop genepool or taxon group the wild taxon belongs to, or whether it used as graftstock.

The work on the Swedish crop wild relative priority list was initiated within the framework of the national plant genetic resources programme, and finalized as part of two joint Nordic projects led by the Nordic Genetic Resource Centre, NordGen.

Tieteellinen artikkeli

SNP Markers and Evaluation of Duplicate Holdings of Brassica oleracea in Two European Genebanks

Around the world, there are more than 1500 genebanks storing plant genetic resources to be used in breeding and research. Such resources are essential for future food security, but many genebanks experience backlogs in their conservation work, often combined with limited budgets. Therefore, avoiding duplicate holdings is on the agenda. A process of coordination has started, aiming at sharing the responsibility of maintaining the unique accessions while allowing access according to the international treaty for plant genetic resources. Identifying duplicate holdings based on passport data has been one component of this. In the past, and especially in vegetables, different selections within the same varieties were common and the naming practices of cultivars/selections were flexible. Here, we examined 10 accession pairs/groups of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) with similar names maintained in the Russian and Nordic genebanks. The accessions were analyzed for 11 morphological traits and with a SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) array developed for B. napus. Both proved to be useful tools for understanding the genetic structure among the accessions and for identifying duplicates, and a subset of 500 SNP markers are suggested for future Brassica oleracea genetic characterization. Within five out of 10 pairs/groups, we detected clear genetic differences among the accessions, and three of these were confirmed by significant differences in one or several morphological traits. In one case, a white cabbage and a red cabbage had similar accession names. The study highlights the necessity to be careful when identifying duplicate accessions based solely on the name, especially in older cross-pollinated species such as cabbage.

Keywords: Brassica oleracea; conservation; diversity; genebank; plant genetic resources; SNP

Vuosikatsaus

NordGen Annual Review 2019

NordGen Annual Review 2019 describes NordGens operations during the year.

Raportti

Genetic Conservation of Forest Trees in the Nordic countries

The aim of this report is to highlight the status of forest gene conservation in the five Nordic countries, how the conservation of forest genetic resources is implemented, as well as strengths and challenges ahead.

There is a need to further develop the European work at the Nordic and national level, including the development of more specific climatic zoning to assess the genetic diversity conserved. There is also a need for a systematic evaluation of how the so called Genetic conservation units (GCU) established under the European programme cover the species genetic diversity in the Nordic region. Evaluation, identification of conservation gaps, as well as characterisation of genetic variation captured by the GCU units, could be further developed in cooperation on a Nordic level.

There is a question whether traditional in situ conservation efforts are enough to secure the genetic resources against future challenges, including climate change and pests and diseases. Cryo preservation and assisted migration have been mentioned as additional measures for some genetic resources at stake. The question on how to proceed and make the work as resilient as possible for the future, needs to be discussed at a Nordic and European scale.

This document has been developed by the NordGen Forest Working Group on Genetic Resources, together with the secretariat of NordGen Forest .

Tieteellinen artikkeli

Assessing the genetic diversity conserved in the Norwegian live poultry genebank

Brekke, C., Groeneveld, L. F., Meuwissen, T. H. E., Sæther, N., Weigend, S., & Berg, P.

The aim of this study was to evaluate genetic diversity within and between lines at the Norwegian live poultry gene bank as well as assessing the conservation value in an international context. Eight lines including the national breed, Jærhøns, were genotyped with the 600K Affymetrix® Axiom® Chicken Genotyping Array. The white egg layers were generally more inbred than the brown layers. Comparative analyses were carried out with 72 international populations of different origins. The lines that were last bred for commercial production in Norway, Norbrid, are clearly separated from the rest of the international set and more closely related to the current commercial lines. The brown egg layer Norbrid 7 has the highest relative contribution to genetic diversity. The Norwegian genebank lines are of conservation value in a national and international perspective, as they all add genetic diversity to the global set.

Tieteellinen artikkeli

Genetic characterization of a small closed island population of Norwegian coastal goat.

Berg, P., Groeneveld, L. F., Brekke, C., Våge, D. I., Sørheim, K. M., & Grøva, L.

The Norwegian coastal goat is a national and endangered breed. Coastal goat populations are mainly divided with a large mainland and two small island populations. The objective of this study is to describe genetic diversity in the feral Skorpa island population and its relationship to the mainland coastal goat population (Selje) using the Norwegian milk goat population as a reference. Analyses were based on 96 samples genotyped by the CaprineSNP50 Beadchip from three populations; 7 Skorpa (SK), 37 Selje (SE) and 52 Norwegian milk goats (MG). The SK population had significantly less genetic variation and higher levels of inbreeding than the two other populations. It was more distant from the two mainland populations than they were from each other. The marginal contribution of the SK population to genetic diversity was small. Means of introducing genetic diversity into the SK population should be considered if the population is prioritized for conservation.

Tieteellinen artikkeli

The status and need for characterization of Nordic animal genetic resources

Line Sass Kierkegaard, Linn Fenna Groeneveld, Anne Kettunen & Peer Berg.

The Nordic countries are committed to conserving farm animal genetic diversity. National reports on phenotypic and genetic characterization point towards a lack of characterization for many Nordic native breeds. Little to no knowledge on the traits of the animals and their derived products leads to potential remaining untapped. The objective of this study was to provide a quantitative assessment of phenotypic and genetic characterization of Nordic native breeds, through a literature search and obtaining census data. Six species and a total of 85 breeds were included. Studies were classified according to six different categories of characterization. Results showed that a large percentage of the breeds are not characterized at all. Moreover, most breeds have extremely low census sizes. A substantial effort to increase population sizes and document characteristics of Nordic native breeds, to promote conservation and sustainable use, is needed.

Tieteellinen artikkeli

Heritage Finnish Landrace chickens are genetically diverse and geographically structured

Berres, M. E., Kantanen, J., Honkatukia, M., Wolc, A., & Fulton, J. E.

The Finnish Landrace breed of chickens (in Finnish suomalainen maatiaiskana) traces its origins to almost 1,000 years ago. Today, remnant populations of phenotypically distinct lineages are maintained by a network of volunteer hobbyists in Finland, managed by Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke). Guided by a prior Major Histocompatibility Complex B-locus haplotype study, we sought now to characterize genetically Finnish Landrace chickens using denser genomic sampling. A new panel of 101 selectively neutral SNP sites was used to interrogate genetic variation in 192 individuals sampled from 13 putatively distinctive population units. Individuals partitioned into K = 11 genetic clusters characterized by high levels of genetic diversity, strong patterns of genetic structure and low levels of inbreeding. Evidence of an undocumented genetic lineage was also discovered. Facilitated by an inexpensive SNP assay, this study shows that the genetic integrity of the Finnish Landrace persists and represents a rich resource of natural (adaptive) genomic variation.

Raportti

Seed Longevity and Survival of Seed Borne Diseases after 30 Year’s Conservation in Permafrost. Report from the 100 year storage experiment.

The Nordic Gene bank established the 100 year seed storage experiment in Coal mine no. 3 outside Longyearbyen in 1986. Security duplicate samples of the Nordic seed collection had been deposited in permafrost in the coal mine since 1984.

The experiment was established with the aim to monitor the longevity of seeds in this Nordic back-up seed collection and to gain general knowledge about the longevity of seed stored under permafrost conditions, as well as studying the survival of seed borne plant pathogens.

The experimental set up included in total 41 seed lots of 17 agricultural and horticultural crop species commonly grown in the Nordic countries. The seed germination experiment included two or three varieties of each crop. The experimental part dedicated to studies of pathogen survival included seeds from 11 crops naturally contaminated by pathogens.

The test program comprises germination and pathogen survival tests every 2.5 years during the first 20 years and then every 5 years for the last 80 years. In total 25 identical sets of test seeds placed in sealed glass tubes were packed in wooden boxes, one box for each planned test year.

The tests have been carried out according to schedule and this report sums up the results from the first 30 years of the experiment. All tests have been carried out in accordance with the same ISTA-protocols.

Raportti

Nordic Agriculture and Climate Change: Mitigation and Adaptation

This report summarizes the discussions and presentations at a workshop held in Oslo on January 18, 2019. The aim was to evaluate how future research can facilitate climate change adaptation and mitigation in Nordic agriculture. The workshop gathered leading actors within the field of Nordic plant breeding. Participants included high-level decision-makers and key stakeholders from Nordic plant breeding companies, farmer organisations, universities and other research organizations. Climate change has already resulted in challenges for Nordic agriculture and the difficulties will continue to increase in the future. It is therefore important to act now to adapt our agriculture to future conditions, especially since the development of new crop varieties takes a long time (8-15 years). In the following pages, specific recommendations are listed. The recommendations have the main goal to support future food security in the Nordic countries by facilitating the development of new crop varieties adapted to our future needs. Special attention is given to the challenge of adaptation to climate change and high-quality food and feed production.

Vuosikatsaus

NordGen Annual Review 2018

NordGen Annual Review describes NordGens operations during the year. In 2018, NordGen celebrated 10 years as a Nordic institution with joint responsibility for plant, farm animal and forest genetic resources. The year also included a multinational event in Svalbard, participation at the climate COP24 in Katowice, increased capacity in the greenhouse and fields and a review of NordGen's IT platform.

Esite

Nordic Cooperation on Genetic Resources - What's the Point?

NordGen has been given the prestigious, but demanding, responsibility to not only preserve, but also to facilitate the use of our genetic resources in the Nordic countries. This is important, since the genetic resources, just as any other natural resources, have an immeasurable potential of promoting a sustainable development as well as creating economic growth. Although NordGen work for future generations, we are immensely important today as well. We send seed samples from our collections to researchers in all parts of the world. We help companies to develop pioneering products. We bring people together in networks where new ideas and cooperations are born. On the following pages we will give you a few examples of visible and distinct change in the society which we have contributed to. Read – and be proud! Be proud to live in the Nordic countries, where we cooperate over the national borders in fundamental issues – both today and for the future!

Suojelusuunnitelma, Raportti

Second Plan of Action for the Conservation of the Nordic Brown Bee

The brown bee, Apis mellifera mellifera, is the honey bee subspecies that occurs natively in the Nordic region. In the 20th century, other honey bee subspecies were introduced to this region by beekeepers. Today, the native brown bee is endangered due to displacement and introgression by these other subspecies.The conservation of genetic diversity is imperative for maintaining future adaptive potential. Bees are not only important farm animals due to their honey production, but also due to their pollination services. Roughly a third of the world’s crop production is based on insect-pollinated plant species and honey bees represent an important pollinator. A priority list of recommended actions for the conservation of the brown bee in the Nordic region was compiled for the first time in 2015 and updated in this second version in 2019.

Tieteellinen artikkeli

A regional approach to Nordic crop wild relative in situ conservation planning

Crop wild relatives (CWR) can provide one solution to future challenges on food security, sustainable agriculture and adaptation to climate change. Diversity found in CWR can be essential for adapting crops to these new demands. Since the need to improve in situ conservation of CWR has been recognized by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) (2010) and the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (2011–2020), it is important to develop ways to safeguard these important genetic resources. The Nordic flora includes many species related to food, forage and other crop groups, but little has been done to systematically secure these important wild resources. A Nordic regional approach to CWR conservation planning provided opportunities to network, find synergies, share knowledge, plan the conservation and give policy inputs on a regional level. A comprehensive CWR checklist for the Nordic region was generated and then prioritized by socio-economic value and utilization potential. Nordic CWR checklist was formed of 2553 taxa related to crop plants. Out of these, 114 taxa including 83 species were prioritized representing vegetable, cereal, fruit, berry, nut and forage crop groups. The in situ conservation planning of the priority CWR included ecogeographic and complementarity analyses to identify a potential network of genetic reserve sites in the region. Altogether 971,633 occurrence records of the priority species were analysed. A minimum number of sites within and outside existing conservation areas were identified that had the potential to support a maximum number of target species of maximum intraspecific diversity.

Politiikkasuositukset

Policy Brief - crop wild relatives: actions needed to assure conservation of an important genetic resource

This policy brief recommends eight specific actions to assure conservation of important crop wild relatives (CWR) in Nordic region. CWRs are wild species closely related to crops and they can contain many important traits missing from modern cultivars. Because of this, they can be used in adaptation of crops to future challenges such as climate change and development of a sustainable environmentally friendly agriculture. It is therefore high time to move into action with planning and implementation of CWR conservation. Central for achieving this goal will be efficient coooperation between stakeholders in both environmental and agricultural sectors, as well as across the borders of the Nordic countries. These policy recommendations were developed within the project "Ecosystem services: genetic resources and crop wild relatives", with feedback from the participants in the workshop "Plant genetic resources for food security and ecosystem services; Planning and implementing national and regional conservation strategies", September 2016, Vilnius, Lithuania

Tietokokonaisuus

The Nordic priority crop wild relative gene pool and distribution dataset

Aim: To collect data for formulating and prioritizing the Nordic CWR checklist (https://doi.org/10.15468/itkype).
Method: The distribution category and the nativity class of the Nordic CWR taxa was recorded. The genepool concept was applied to the CWR taxa related to food and forage crops.
Results: The relatedness of wild relatives to the crop (genepool concept) are listed. The distribution data includes indigenous, naturalized foreign or a temporary foreign categories of the priority taxa in each Nordic country.

Tieteellinen artikkeli

Seed yield and protein content in the Weibullsholm Pisum collection

In Europe, agriculture is highly dependent on imported soybean from South America. Potential alternative sources are protein from peas (Pisum sativum L.) or more local sources like other grain legumes or rapeseed meal (Brassica napus L. subsp. oliefera). These are also good rotation crops. For farmers, protein and yield are key traits. In this study, a dataset containing 37 descriptors and 1222 accessions from a germplasm collection of P. sativum was analyzed. Scatterplot matrixes and tree regression analysis were used to establish the relationship among descriptors and to identify the most important predictors for seed yield and protein content respectively. Number of flowers per plant was shown to be important for seed yield prediction, followed by number of inflorescences per plant and number of pods per plant. In general, a negative correlation between seed protein content and seed yield was detected, but a few accessions that had both high seed yield and high protein content were identified. The results are discussed in relation to crop improvement and the importance of maintaining germplasm collections.

Raportti

Faroese Horse: Population status & conservation possibilities

The Faroese horse (Føroysk Ross) is an integral part of agricultural history on the Faroe Islands. There is no unambiguous evidence of the origins of the Faroese Horse. It is believed, though, that the Faroese horse was brought to the islands by Celtic or/and Scandinavian settlers approximately 500-800 AD. Molecular genetic studies have indicated the closest genetic relationship with the Icelandic horse. Influences from Dartmoor and Exmoor ponies are also likely. Traditionally Faroese horses were kept free ranging in the mountains, and only gathered and brought to the villages when there was a need for transporting heavy goods. After f inishing their duties, the horses were again turned out without supplemental feeding. This semi-domestic management contributed to the Faroese horse developing into a small, strong and feed efficient horse with a compact body and strong legs and hoofs, well adapted to the climate, terrain and vegetation. The population size of the Faroese horse was likely 600 to 800 individuals at its highest. Mechanisation of agriculture and heavy exportation of Faroese Horses to the British Isles as mining ponies resulted in a drastic decrease in population size. Currently a small population of Faroese horse exists on the Faroese Islands, which stems from a few horses born between the 1940s and 1960s. Today, the Faroese horse is used for recreational purposes. The objective of this study was to conduct a pedigree analysis of the current population of the Faroese horse, as well as to describe the possibilities for a sustainable management of the breed by using optimal contribution selection (OCS).

Raportti, Esite

Promoting Nordic Plant Breeding for the Future PPP Public Private Partnership for Pre-breeding

The establishment of PPP for Pre-breeding, development, present status and the way forward are described in this booklet. The success of the PPP is based on:

• Pooled public funding

• Participation from plant breeding companies

• Engagement from research environments

• 50/50-funding between public sources and industry

The history of PPP for Pre-breeding has been a success and this booklet reveals some cases from the fruitful collaborations. The Nordic Council of Ministers is proud to have initiated the PPP for Pre-breeding and we are grateful to the partners, who have contributed to the process: plant breeding companies, universities, NordGen and governments of the Nordic countries, which have decided to continue funding the project. It is vitally important to continue this work because plant breeding is a long term process. There is no finishing line – only the way forward.

Tieteellinen artikkeli

Morphological and phenological consequences of ex situ conservation of natural populations of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.).

Ex situ seed banks provide an effective conservation and utilization system for crops and their wild relatives. Efforts are made to reduce genetic drift in conservation, where regeneration is a critical step. In the present study, we examined eight wild populations of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) according to 13 morphological and phenological traits. Samples of original collected seed were grown and compared with plants from first and second ex situ generation, with commercial cultivars and landraces being included for purposes of comparison. Variance analysis and Tukey multiple comparisons of means showed that the commercial cultivars and landraces were clearly distinct from the wild populations and were excluded from the further analysis. Despite the fact that the wild accessions were collected from a geographically delimited region in Norway, they exhibited significant differences in several of the measured traits. The main phenotypic patterns remain after ex situ regenerations. However, the mean values for four of the examined traits (across accessions) did change significantly from one generation to the next. Two of the eight accessions had significantly changed from one generation to the next, a tendency was observed across all the studied traits. The results were discussed in terms of regeneration circumstances. Observed changes appeared to be directional, going from populations with predominantly wild morphological types towards plants more closely resembling the commercial cultivars. Such a directional change implies that selection or gene flow has been acting on the accessions during regeneration, rather than random changes owing to genetic drift.

Raportti

More than just weeds: NordGen's work with Cultural Relict Plants and Bernt Løjtnant's inventories from Denmark

The report is about cultural relict plants – which are remaining populations of plants once introduced or cultivation and used as food, spice and medicine, fibres, colours, or other purposes. Such plants are often regarded as weeds, but they are rather part of a biocultural heritage. Some plants can be part of a place’s history and identity. The main part of the report is given to Bernt Løjtnant’s list of species and the inventories he has done on 100 Danish medieval locations as well as a red list of cultural relict plants in Denmark (in Danish text). The report also includes chapters on relict plants in other Nordic regions and NordGen’s collection missions and conservation efforts as well as a discussion of challenges and future perspectives related to conservation of such plants.

Raportti

Kulturreliktväxter: Levande fornminnen och hur vi bevarar dem

"Kulturreliktväxter – Levande fornminnen och hur vi bevarar dem" handlar om kulturreliktväxter i Norden. Skriften består av två delar. Den första handlar om vad kulturreliktväxter är och varför de är intressanta och viktiga att bevara. Den andra delen - Skötsel av områden där det kan finnas kulturreliktväxter - är en skötselhandledning, som genom praktiska tips och råd berättar hur man på ganska enkla sätt kan anpassa skötseln av en plats s. att reliktväxter kan få möjlighet att överleva och trivas där.

Raportti

Sorter av köksväxter: Svenska priskuranter från 1800-talet till 1930

Det finns idag ingen fullständig förteckning över sorter av köksväxter som odlats i Sverige samt vilka sorter som kan räknas som svenska. För att få svar på detta genomfördes 2012 och 2014 ett projekt med mål att få en förteckning på sorter av köksväxter som odlats i Sverige. Avsikter var också att ta reda på när de började säljas och när de försvann från marknadensamt om dessa sorter idag går att få tag på i genbank eller hos odlare. Beskrivning av sorterna var också önskvärt att få fram för att kunna skilja sorterna åt och, ifall de finns kvar, kunna utnyttja deras egenskaper, både i sin nuvarande form och i en framtida förädling. Tiden begränsades från 1800-talet fram till 1900-talets början. Den ursprungliga målsättningen att få en fullständig förteckning på sorter av köksväxter som odlats i Sverige från 1800-talet och framåt visade sig vara omöjligt. Det blev en förteckning (bilaga 2) men den har flera brister. Omfattningen av materialet bidrog till detta men ännu mer att det inte fanns en standardisering för sortnamn och sortbegrepp. Tonvikten i undersökningen skulle ligga på svenska sorter, vilket var ännu svårare eftersom det inte går att avgöra när en sort är svensk. Tydligt svenska sortnamn saknades nästan helt på 1800-talet men blev mer vanligt i början på 1900-talet. Det går också att konstatera att det var förvånansvärt många sorter som fortsätter att hänga med från mitten av 1800-talet till 1930.

Raportti

40 Years of Nordic Collaboration in Plant Genetic Resources

The current book is a celebration of 40 years of Nordic collaboration on plant genetic resources. International perspectives are highlighted and the first chapter is written with input from Axel Diederichsen from Plant Gene Resources of Canada and Igor G. Loskutov from the N.I. Vavilov Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR), and the chapter traces lines back to the pioneers and with a specific focus on Vavilov and how he had influenced scientists in the Nordic countries. Roland von Bothmer and Peter Tigerstedt give an overview of the Nordic plant breeding and genetic resources. Jens Weibull discusses the role of NGB (and NordGen) in the European genebank collaboration. A special section is given to a historical recap of how NGB worked with the Gatersleben gene bank in the early 1980s, at a time when computers were large and collaboration with GDR was not straight forward for western countries, and this section is written with inputs from Jan Engels (former Bioversity International) and Helmut Knüpffer (former IPK Gatersleben). The data management systems at NGB and NordGen are discussed by inputs from Dag Endresen (former IT leader at NGB, now at University of Oslo). We also have chapters on the collaboration with VIR and the Baltic States, the 100-years experiment on seed longevity in permafrost, and the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. Regarding the collections, Roland von Bothmer gives the story of the international Hordeum and Triticeae project and Udda Lundqvist of the Swedish Barley Mutant Collection. The celebration book is finished by chapters on the NordGen's Plant Genetic Resource Collection of today with perspectives on conservation and use, amongst others the ongoing Public-Private Partnership project, written by the current staff at the genebank and Anders Nilsson at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp. A special thanks to Helmut Knüpffer, Kit Lundborg, Roland von Bothmer and Sara Landqvist for their comments and proof-readings of this book.

Päiväkirja

Nordic GENEresources

A New NordGen Provides New Possibilities!
Old Pastures & Old Livestock Breeds: A Perfect Match?
Svalbard Global Seed Vault – Symbol and Reality
Hidden Treasure – 2008 is the International Year of the Potato
A ’Danish Giant’ Asparagus
Climate Change – A Challenge for Plants!
Nordic Cooperation on Genetic Resources under Sweden's Chair of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2008
The Finnhorse – A Versatile All-rounder
Norwegian Red (NRF) – Enjoying International Success
Contingency Flocks for Poultry
Swedish National Action Plan for the Management of Farm Animal Genetic Resources
The Icelandic Leadersheep
Spruce Memory Enables Rapid Adaptation to Climate Change
Special Tree Forms – A Poorly Utilised Forest Genetic Resource genresurs i våra skogar

Raportti

Management and Exchange of Animal Genetic Resources – Nordic perspective

This report is based on a project "Legal framework for the rights and exchange of animal genetic resources in the Nordic region" which was funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers and Norwegian Genetic Resource Center and Nordic Gene Bank for Farm Animals (now part of NordGen). The project delivers this report concerning the stakeholders' needs for legal framework and possibilities to assess the value of sales and exchange of genetic material of farm animals in the Nordic region. The project also analysed possible needs for framework and regulations related to animal breeding and animal genetic resources in a global context.

Raportti

Access and Rights to Genetic Resources

The Report addresses various aspects related to rights and access to genetic resources in the Nordic countries. The report examines all genetic resources, while pointing out relevant differences between types of resources. The report studies the rights and access to the genetic resources managed by the Nordic Gene Bank. It also provides recommendations and alternatives for rights and access to genetic resources within the Nordic countries. It gives an overview of the need for and means of implementing the provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITGRFA) and other international agreements in the Nordic countries. The report further analyses how rights and access to genetic resources relate to international law on intellectual property rights applied to genes and living organisms.