MARDI rice genebank: important roles in data management and data sharing
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2020
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
IAARD Press
Abstract
Malaysia has agreed to adopt the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) and acceded to the Treaty in 2004. Under Article 10 of the Treaty, the contracting parties should allow easy access of the genetic resources under Annex 1 Crop through Multilateral System, and Benefit-Sharing raised from the utilization of the resources. To implement the Treaty, MARDI has actively involved in the implementation through the exchange of seeds particularly rice accessions using Standard Materials Transfer
Agreement (SMTA) and in data sharing for easy access of rice genetic resources. MARDI has started to involve in adoption and implementation of Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) and also contributed to the Genesys database though a project named „Building Genesys Catalog of Phenotypic Datasets of Malaysian Rice Germplasm‟. In Malaysia, rice genetic resources are conserved at the National Rice Genebank in Penang. The genebank was established in 1989 with the primary purpose to collect and conserve rice genetic resources (Oryza spp.) in Malaysia. Currently, the genebank has conserved a total of 13,020 accessions of rice germplasms consisted of landraces collected throughout the country, introduced varieties, and breeding materials. The rice germplasms are an important source of genetic materials for the development of new rice varieties. To date, 48 rice varieties were developed and introduced to the farmers and local communities. Those varieties possessed consequential and unique traits such as high yield and resistant to pest and diseases, to make them valuable to farmers and local communities. Those varieties are registered and freely accessed in Global Information System (GLIS) website for DOI implementation. Besides, a total of 22 phenotypic datasets including datasets for morphological traits, pest and diseases (brown planthopper, blast and bacterial leaf blight), and quality and speciality traits, are prepared and published in the Genesys portal (database). Data sharing is essential to enhance the breeding program in the country and sharing of valuable genetic resources with other countries for the future development of new varieties for food security and to promote sustainable agriculture.
Description
Keywords
Malaysia, MARDI, DOI, rice genetic resources, ITPGRFA.