Mini Core Germplasm Collections for Developing Climate Resilient Crop Cultivars and Achieving Enhanced Genetic Gains in Plant Breeding Programs

Crop germplasm diversity contributes to developing improved crop cultivars aimed at increasing crop productivity to meet future food security needs of world. The large size of germplasm collections and lack of reliable information on traits of economic importance has resulted in low use (<1%) of germplasm. To facilitate realization of the potential benefits of germplasm collections to broaden the genetic base of cultivars in many crops, the mini core (~1% of the entire collection) concept was postulated and a development process proposed, to produce resources recognized globally as an “International Public Good” (IPG). Mini core collections have been developed in several crops and new diverse sources of genetic variation identified for biotic and abiotic stresses, agronomic and nutritional traits for use in crop improvement programs. Using genetically diverse sources scientists have developed breeding lines with enhanced trait expression and higher genetic gains. Molecular characterization of germplasm has revealed that phenotypic traits were as effective as molecular markers in sampling allelic diversity to form mini core collections.