Organization structure

National Centre for Plant Genetic Resources

Zofia Bulińska-Radomska, D.Sc.
phone/fax: (+48 22) 725 47 15
e-mail: z.bulinska@ihar.edu.pl

www.ihar.edu.pl/gene_bank

The National Centre for Plant Genetic Resources serves as the National Coordinator for Plant Genetic Resources Programme, with the objective of conservation of genetic variability of crop plants endangered with genetic erosion in Poland.

Objectives:

• collection of populations and cultivated varieties of crop and wild plants threatened with genetic erosion,
• description and evaluation of collected materials,
• maintenance of seed samples and clones in viable state and in genetic purity,
• documentation of collected materials, exchange of samples with other gene banks and botanical gardens worldwide,
• providing of initial plant materials for breeding and research programmes.

Laboratory of Documentation and Long Term Conservation
Head: vacat
phone: (+48 22) 725 36 11 ext. 279
e-mail: genebank@ihar.edu.pl

Objectives:

• documenting genetic resources of crop plants and exchange of information,
• obtaining seed samples of crop plants from national and international breeding centers,
• seed viability testing of samples for long term preservation,
• preparation of seed samples for long term preservation,
• study of seed response after long term preservation,
• study of biochemical changes in seeds exposed to long term preservation,
• forwarding seed samples with low seed viability or with insufficient seed amount for regeneration,
• provision of seed samples for breeding, research and education.

Laboratory of Plant Collection and Evaluation
Zofia Bulińska-Radomska, D.Sc.
phone/fax: (+48 22) 725 47 15
e-mail: z.bulinska@ihar.edu.pl
e-mail: genebank@ihar.edu.pl

Objectives:

• inventory and collection of plant genetic resources through collecting expeditions,
• reproduction and preliminary screening of collected material,
• study of variation and genetic structure of selected species,
• preparation of initial materials of selected species for practical breeding.

Laboratory of Soil Reclamation Plants
Krzysztof Klimont, Ph.D.
phone: (+48 15) 832 29 65 or 833 23 27

Objectives:

• collection of local and foreign plant species with increased ability to adapt to extreme conditions of devastated environment,
• regeneration and maintenance of viability of alternative plant collection for reclamation of degraded (devastated) lands periodically excluded from agricultural use,
• analysis of ability of selected plants species to colonize on different types of industrial and communal derivative areas,
• description of morphological and other useful plant traits which have high biological yielding potential to serve as a source of energy and for other economic uses,
• preparation of initial material for the breeding programmes of alternative crops.

Botanical Garden
Włodzimierz Majtkowski, Ph.D.
PL 85-867 Bydgoszcz, Jeździecka 5 Str.
phone/fax: (+48 52) 381 31 93
e-mail: obihar@poczta.onet.pl or w.majtkowski@interia.pl

The plants originated from various climatic zones all over the word are maintained in different, highly specialized collections. Scientific activity is coordinated by National Centre for Plant Genetic Resources of PBAI at Radzików. Since 1971 collection, evaluation and preservation of grass genetic resources is the key activity of Botanical Garden. It is framed in ECP/GR (European Cooperative Programme for Crop Genetic Resources Networks) coordinated by Bioversity International (formerly International Plant Genetic Resources Institute – IPGRI) in Rome. Since 1994 genetic resources activities were spread over dicotyledonous species used for different purposes (aromatic, medicinal, decorative, reclamation, etc.).

Number of taxons: ca. 3.500

Natural resources include:

• collection of selected grass species with particular regards on ecotypes – about 650 species from Poaceae family, divided into: a) pasture and turf grass ecotypes, b) decorative grasses, and c) wild growing grasses,
• collection of energetic plant species - usually cultivated for combustion purposes,
• collection and evaluation of selected species of usable plants for breeding purposes – includes total number of 2700 taxons with: 2450 decorative species, 370 medicinal species, 284 honey-yielding species, 56 seasoning species, 82 tinctorial species, 18 fiber species and 121 endangered and protected species,
• collection and evaluation of selected species for reclamation of waste areas – evaluation of species for biological reclamation of areas devastated by industry and/or municipal management. Above collection was initiated in 1992 and now it consist of 100 plant species – trees, shrubs and perennials (including grasses).

Collection of grasses	Collection of usable plants for breeding purposes