Citrus Germplasm Resources and their use in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, and Uruguay

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1 Proceedings of the Global Citrus Germplasm Network Appendix 5 Citrus Germplasm Resources and their use in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, and Uruguay Catalina Anderson Estación Experimental INTA Concordia, C. C. N0. 34, 3200 Concordia, E. Rios, Argentina. Tel , Fax , anderson@concordia.com.ar Additional index words. germplasm conservation, accessions, genetic resources, collections, propagation material Abstract. No members of the genus Citrus or its close relatives are indigenous to America, so citrus diversity in the Western Hemisphere has been obtained by introduction from overseas, collecting material arising from mutations, as natural hybrids, or from breeding programs. Argentina has two main collections with 1433 accessions located in Concordia and Tucumán. Minor collections are located at other research centers. Brazil has the biggest number of accessions (2850) distributed in three different ecological conditions within the country. Other minor collections maintain cultivars for commercial purposes. In Central America, Cuba has a collection with 304 accessions. Uruguay has collections in three institutions with a total of 792 accessions while Chile has the smallest collection with 96 accessions. These five important citrus producing countries maintain citrus germplasm available for research on preservation, evaluation, and documentation of the material. Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, and Uruguay are using the variability of their local gene banks in genetic improvement programs aiming to obtain new rootstock and scion varieties. Each country has a certified citrus nursery tree program in order to guarantee success in the use of high quality propagation material within its citrus industry. Citrus is one of the major cultivated fruit crop in the world, being grown in more than 100 countries throughout the tropical, subtropical, and Mediterranean climatic areas. Total 1995 world production was 78.1 million metric tons (FAO, 1998). In America, commercial citrus production is present in several countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Cuba, Mexico, Perú, Uruguay, United States, and Venezuela. In 1995 total citrus production in the Americas was 40.2 million tons and projected production for 2005 is expected to reach 47.8 million tons (FAO, 1998). It is generally accepted that most of citrus genetic diversity is present in Asia while commercial plantings are all over the world. No members of the genus Citrus or its close relatives are indigenous to America, so citrus germplasm in American collections has been obtained by introduction from overseas, by collecting material arising from mutations, or as hybrids from breeding programs. Loss of valuable material from germplasm banks because of restriction of economical resources is a serious concern. The yearly costs for running a Citrus Germplasm Repository are high (Krueger, 1996) and not all countries in America are aware of the importance of keeping their citrus collections evaluated and available. Different surveys or information showed that in some countries, such as United States, Brazil, and Argentina for example, working groups are engaged in maintenance and research on field collections of Citrus species and relatives (Krueger, 1996; Da Cunha Sobrinho, 1997; Machado, 1996; Anderson, 1998).

2 Specimens of Citrus and related genera are found in research institutes and university fields or greenhouse collections. These collections are maintained primarily for use in breeding programs and as a resource for the citrus industry. Often there is insufficient support to continue preservation and potentially valuable forms, and in many cases the introduced material is not maintained for the long term. In the past, and even today, several diseases have threatened collections and many accessions were lost or will be unless more effort is put into germplasm maintenance. ARGENTINA Argentina citrus industry comprises more than 140,000 has and a total production of 2,280,000 ton. Fifteen percent of total production is exported and sent to the Northern Hemisphere as off-season fruit, 40% is processed, and 45% is traded in the domestic market (Larocca, INTA Concordia, personal communication, 2000). Citrus orchards are located in two regions with different ecological conditions, known as Northeast (NEA) and Northwest (NOA). The same citrus species are commercially planted in both regions. However, lemons and grapefruits are more important in the NOA, and oranges and tangerines in the NEA region. Of Argentina s total production, 47% are lemons, 30% oranges, 15% tangerines, and 8% grapefruits. Citrus genetic resources are located in two main germplasm collections associated with long-term breeding programs in both producing regions. One of them, is the Concordia Citrus Collection (CCC) (Latitude S and Longitude W). It belongs to the Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) is in the NEA region and has maintained material since The current plantation site was initiated in A catalog and a computer data bank of available plant material were developed in order to maintain identities and to evaluate and preserve the existing genetic diversity. The data bank includes most important phenotypic characters, plant growth, fruit characteristics, and production. The accessions are maintained in the field or under screenhouse (certified material). The INTA computer system (SIBAG) (Tillería, 1994) includes phenotypic descriptions as well as site and origin information for 963 accessions of Citrus and related genera (Table 1). This data bank is also an important tool for the organization of propagation material for commercial use through PROCITRUS, the Budwood Improvement Program (Anderson et al., 1997). Argentina began its mandatory Citrus Certification Program for Propagation Material in Today, there are 117 disease-free and true-to-type commercial cultivars available for the nursery industry. Quarantine regulations are the same for Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay because these countries are participants of the

3 COSAVE (Comité de Sanidad Vegetal del Cono Sur). Accessions from the CCC were used for the INTA Improvement Program (1973) and 486 selections are under evaluation. Other minor INTA collections maintain cultivars for commercial evaluation at different duplication sites such as Bella Vista (Corrientes), Montecarlo (Misiones), San Pedro (Bs.As.), and Famaillá (Tucumán). Since the begining of the century, the Experiment Station Obispo Colombres began the introduction of citrus material to its collection located in Tucumán province (Latitude S and Longitude W and 481 m above sea level (NOA region). It maintains material from different citrus producing areas of the world as well as local selections and new hybrids from the Experiment Station Breeding Program. The germplasm bank has 470 accessions of Citrus and related genera (Table 1) and 741 hybrids, mainly rootstocks, under evaluation. Data on tree morphology, production, scion and rootstock compatibility, and fruit quality are taken annually. BRAZIL In 1997, Brazil produced million tons and is the major citrus producing country in South America (Passos et al., 1999). During the thirties, citrus germplasm was introduced for research at the Experiment Stations located at Limeira, São Paulo, Deodoro in Rio de Janeiro, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, and Taquari in Rio Grande do Sul. The majority of accessions were obtained by seed introduction from the United States. The production of nucellar lines by S. Moreira was the basis for the development of the Brazilian citrus industry. Major citrus germplasm collections are located under three different ecological conditions as follows (Table 2): 1) National Research Center for Cassava and Fruit Crops (CNPMF), Cruz das Almas, Bahia,(Latitude S, Longitude W), 2) Fruit Crops Research Center (FCRC), Taquari, Rio Grande do Sul (Latitude S, Longitude W), and 3) Sylvio Moreira Citriculture Center (SM CC), connected to the Agronomic Institute of Campinas (Latitude S, Longitude W, and an altitude of 639,0 msl), Cordeirópolis, São Paulo. The largest Brazilian collection is maintained in the field, grafted on two rootstocks. Mother trees for propagation purposes are kept under screenhouse due to the presence of Citrus Variegated Clorosis. Morphological and genetic characterization with molecular markers is being done. The SMCC has supported research programs and is responsible for the propagation material for the implementation of the São Paulo Citrus Certification Program. New regulations for the production of citrus nursery trees began in July The second citrus collection site is located at the National Research Center for Cassava and Tropical Fruit Crops, linked to EMBRAPA, at Cruz das Almas, Bahia. The field collection has 643 accessions grafted on Rangpur lime. Accessions from CNPMF Collection have been used in developing commercial collections in the North and Northeastern Brazilian regions. The third important collection is at the Fruit Crops Research Center (FCRC), in Taquarí, State of Rio Grande do Sul, the state where the combination Valencia orange on trifoliate orange is commonly used. In addition, there are small with selected commercial cultivars. They are playing an important role in regional citriculture development (Passos et al., 1999).

4 CHILE In 1999, Chile had a total citrus production of 0.4 million tons. Fifty five percent of the planted area is lemons, 38% oranges, 5% mandarins, and 2% grapefruits (Ortuzar, Santiago Catholic University, personal communication, 2000). The main citrus collection is located at Facultad de Agronomía of Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, La Palma, Quillota City. Material is used for research purposes and is the basis for the Chilean Citrus Certification Program since 1993 (Table 3). Today, the program has 96 commercial cultivars in pots under screenhouse for commercial propagation. Accessions are under evaluation for tree growth, production, and fruit quality. Information on evaluation is registered manually and published in catalogs.

5 CUBA Citrus production is about 0.7 million tons for processing and the fresh market. Main commercial varieties are oranges and grapefruits. The Instituto de Investigaciones de Cítricos y Otros Frutales (IICF) Citrus Collection is located at the Estación Experimental de Jagüey Grande, San Ignacio No. 2, Torriente, Matanzas (Latitude N, Longitude W). The maintenance of accessions is done in the field where tree growth, production, and fruit quality is evaluated, and under screenhouse conditions for maintaining certified material. Quarantine regulations are established by the Centro Nacional de Sanidad Vegetal. Accessions are characterized morphologically and with molecular markers and data is kept in a data base (SISBAGER) and manually. Material from the IICF Collection is used for research, breeding and for the certification program (Table 4). The National Registration Program was initiated in 1980 and today, 115 cultivars are certified for multiplication purposes at Alquizar, Habana province. The Citrus research Institute, National Phytosanitary Department, National Seed Institute, and the National Seed Company are involved in the National Registration Program. URUGUAY In 1999, citrus production in Uruguay was 0.33 million tons (Bentacur, personal communication, 2000). Forty percent of total production is oranges, 30% mandarins, and 30% lemons and grapefruits. Fruit quality is very high and production goes mainly to the fresh market. Citrus germplasm resources are available in three different collections (Table 5): 1) Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA) Salto Grande Collection, located in Ruta 3 camino al Terrible (Latitude S, Longitude W), Salto. Trees are maintained in greenhouse, screenhouse, and in the field. Evaluation on tree growth, production, and fruit quality is done annually and records are registered manually and computerized.

6 Morphological characterization is done using the IPGRI descriptors (IPGRI, 2000). Plant material from the INIA Collection is used in research projects and a breeding program with 76 hybrids now under evaluation. 2) Facultad de Agronomía Collection, Ruta 31 Km 21.5 (Latitude 31 o 23.8 S, Longitude W), Salto. Germplasm is maintained as a field collection and some accessions are in a greenhouse. Evaluation on tree growth, production, and fruit quality is being done on 95 cultivars and 30 rootstocks. Diversity in the collection was used to obtain 305 individuals between 1998 and 2000 using controlled crosses, mutagenic treatments, and selection. Documentation is manual and partially computerized (Cottin, 1997) and, 3) Dirección General de Servicios Agrícolas Collection at Montevideo (Latitude 30 S, Longitude W). This collection is the basis of the voluntary Certification Program in Uruguay. It was initiated in 1994 and today 79 commercial cultivars are certified and kept under insect-proof cages for multiplication. Final Considerations There are important steps being taken to conserve genetic resources in Citrus and related genera. Nevertheless, it is emphasized that preservation of both public and private collections is in doubt and material from certain collections is being lost. This is partially because of high cost of maintenance, and present or future shortages of research personnel. Numbers of accessions in many collections are also seriously reduced because individual breeders may be interested only in limited and usually commercial groups of species or forms. There are a number of important citrus collections in America, such as the ones in Argentina, Brazil, Riverside, California in the United States, and Cuba. The list is incomplete because there are small collections in most of the citrus producing countries, where information is not available or not well organized because of lack of adequate funding or trained personnel. There are other countries that have genotypes of potential interest in dooryards or their subtropical forest. Usually, seedling trees are growing in the wild with no complete characterization or evaluation. These trees may have special traits now regarded as a source of material

7 1996). Although many landraces have been lost through replacement by modern varieties, there are areas where citrus trees still can be found for evaluation. In 1991, under the aegis of the FAO, the Inter-American Citrus Network (IACNET) was created in Chile. This network has a working group for citrus genetic resources and propagation. Recent organization of the Global Citrus Germplasm Network (GCGN) emphasized the global importance of cooperative efforts among countries for conserving citrus genetic resources (Albrigo et al., 1996). These groups are developing joint efforts in a plan for global cooperative Citrus germplasm conservation and exchange. These efforts should include consideration of the high cost of maintaining and evaluating collections in traditional ways, one of the principal factors limiting the development and maintenance of repositories. Equally important is the requirement that exchange or vegetative propagation of material should be without plant health risk, i.e. that disease from plant material is propagated and exchanged. Acknowledgements. The author wishes to thank the curators from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Uruguay, and the IACNET National Coordinators from the participating countries for the information and support to write this paper. Literature cited Albrigo, G.; F. Gmitter and G. Menini Requirements and priorities for Citrus Germplasm Conservation. Proc. of Symp:6-10, VIII ISC Congress, Sun City, South Africa. Anderson, C. M Citrus Germplasm resources in Argentina. Institutional report. Argentina. Anderson, C. M.; N. B. Costa; A. Fabiani; and M. I. Plata Procitrus: The Citrus Budwood Program for Argentina. Proc. ISCN, Vol. 1: , France. Cottin, R EGID, A Computerized Database System for Citrus. Proc. Citrus Germplasm Conservation Workshop: 43, Brisbane, Australia. Cunha Sobrinho, A. P.da et al Banco ativo de germoplasma de citros. Personal communication. Embrapa, Brazil. FAO Proyecciones de la producción, demanda y comercio de los frutos cítricos hasta el año CCP: CI 98/5.Valencia, España. FAO Citrus Production. Rome. IPGRI Descriptor for Citrus. FAO, Rome, Italy. Krueger, R. R An estimation of the annual cost to maintain a citrus germplasm repository. Proc. of Symp:56-67, VIII ISC Congress, Sun City, South Africa. Machado, M. A Citrus germplasm collections in Brazil: evaluation and characterization. Proc. of Symp.: 68-69, VIII ISC Congress, Sun City, South Africa.

8 Menini, U. G For the conservation of genetic resources of citrus and citrus relatives. Proc. of Symp.: 2-5, VIII ISC Congress, Sun City, South Africa. Passos, O. S., Cunha Sobrinho, A. P. da., Santos Filho, H. P Citrus certification programs in Brazil. Cruz das Almas, BA. EMBRAPA CNPMF (in press). Tillería, Julio Sistema de Información para Bancos Activos de Germoplasma. Manual Operativo, INTA, 89 pp, Argentina.

USDA-ARS Sunflower Germplasm Collections

USDA-ARS Sunflower Germplasm Collections Gerald J. Seiler 1 and Laura Fredrick Marek 2 1 USDA-ARS, Northern Crop Science Lab., Fargo, ND 2 Iowa State University and USDA-ARS, Ames, IA Wild Species Traits