Complementary conservation of South African crop wild relatives for plant improvement

Abstract

Crop Wild Relatives (CWR) are good sources of unexplored genetic diversity that can assist plant breeders to increase the yield and resilience of their crops. These species are valuable plant genetic resources (PGR) that have been used in more than 4,157 documented cases of plant improvement to date. South Africa has 258 prioritized CWR, selected based on their distribution, threat status and potential as gene donors. In light of ongoing habitat destruction, global warming and mismanagement of resources, the conservation of these PGR is vital. Complementary conservation approaches allow for the continuous development of CWR, while harnessing and applying the available diversity in plant breeding programs. The South African National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) strives to utilize conservation resources to build and maintain an effective complementary, in situ to ex situ conservation pipeline. As part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), South Africa has access to numerous resources that can assist to protect its rich floral diversity, including the SADC Plant Genetic Resource Centre (SPGRC), the SADC CWR Project and CAPFITOGEN3.