With the development of climate change that can cause significant crop losses and threaten agricultural production, gene banks and repositories of genetic resources have a significant role to play in preserving seeds and other genetic materials for different countries.
According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), around 75 per cent of the genetic diversity of crops has been lost over the past century as farmers worldwide have shifted to cultivating uniform high-yield varieties and have abandoned more diverse local crops. However, genetic diversity is essential for adapting and improving agriculture to face threats such as disease, climate change, and other factors that can alter growth conditions.
Director of Egypt’s National Gene Bank and Genetic Resources of Egypt (NGBGRE) Nevine Abdel-Fattah highlighted the organisation’s role in preserving genetic diversity and ensuring food security.
“Our mission is to collect, preserve, sustainably utilise, and document Egyptian genetic resources, making them accessible to plant breeders and researchers. Our aim is to enable the development of more resilient crops, ultimately supporting sustainable agriculture in the face of environmental challenges,” Abdel-Fattah said.
The preservation of genetic resources in Egypt began with the establishment of the National Genetic Resources Programme in 1997. A later decision resulted in its transformation into the National Gene Bank, which was officially launched in 2004.
This includes specialised laboratories and departments and supports the transfer of genetic resources for commercial and research purposes in line with international agreements. It also allows for the local use of these resources for scientific research or other purposes.
The NGBGRE carries out collection trips during which researchers gather Egyptian genetic resources, ensuring that no varieties or types are overlooked and contrasting with farmers and plant breeders who focus on productivity when selecting such resources for re-cultivation.
It preserves resources, including those that may not currently be able to withstand contemporary climatic conditions but that may contain vital genes that can resist diseases or environmental challenges. These genetic resources are then classified to protect them from being lost due to climate change or neglect by farmers. The preserved diversity provides a foundation for researchers to develop seeds resistant to diseases and climate challenges.
The process begins with mapping locations where researchers can collect seed and plant samples from farmers and plant breeders. “Farmers are skilled observers who are used to monitoring their crops, identifying the best-performing plants for replanting in subsequent seasons. They give seedlings and seeds to our researchers taken from high-yielding plants and areas,” Abdel-Fattah said.
The NGBGRE has collected around 45,000 genetic resources, including field crops, horticultural crops (related to garden cultivation), medicinal and aromatic plants, and ornamental plants. Each plant species can have numerous genetic variations, and over 300 different genetic types of wheat have been collected from different governorates.
The organisation collects such resources nationwide, ensuring the preservation of diverse genetic traits, such as heat tolerance in Upper Egyptian wheat and moisture-resistant wheat in Menoufiya. “We examined the various regions in which grapes are grown, for instance, and found different types grown in the Delta and in Upper Egypt. Our field trips yielded black grapes from Marsa Matrouh and white grapes from Sohag,” she said.
Once they have been collected by the NGBGRE, the genetic resources are processed based on their type, including both plant and animal genetic resources. Plant genetic resources include crops and horticultural plants, and the researchers begin by collecting 25 seedlings or cuttings for propagation and evaluation. The samples are checked for pests and diseases, rooted in suitable soil, and cultivated in the NGBGRE’s fields and greenhouses.
During the propagation, researchers describe the genetic resources, documenting flower, fruit, and leaf characteristics to establish detailed records for Egyptian species. Afterwards, the resources are evaluated under varying conditions, such as high temperatures, soil salinity, and drought, to assess their resilience. These evaluations enable breeders to integrate the genetic traits of these resources into high-yield, climate-resilient strains.
“The evaluation is conducted by cultivating genetic resources in various climates. For example, they are assessed for heat tolerance by being cultivated in high-temperature governorates such as Aswan or Luxor. Given that these regions are among Egypt’s hottest, resources that perform well there are considered heat-tolerant and suitable for agriculture in other areas,” Abdel-Fattah said.
“The evaluation takes three years and is conducted under similar conditions before the resource is considered resistant to one of the climate challenges.”
CLASSIFICATION: The NGBGRE has three main storage areas for classifying and preserving genetic resources.
“During seed classification, we store the seeds at 5°C. For propagation, we move them to storage at -5°C. After evaluation, we preserve a resource sample at -20°C for 10 to 20 years. Low temperatures slow metabolic processes, allowing the samples to remain viable for extended periods. When the seeds are removed and exposed to normal temperatures, farmers can cultivate them in the appropriate seasons,” Abdel-Fattah said.
The samples are periodically tested during long-term storage to ensure viability and a germination rate of at least 85 per cent. If this drops even slightly, the resource will be replanted and propagated anew.
“Plants such as pomegranates, apricots, plums, peaches, grapes, and citrus fruits can reproduce through cuttings or seedlings. The NGBGRE cultivates them on a five-acre plot of land that also includes roses and jasmine,” she added. “We also are working to establish a permanent water source suitable for expanding papyrus cultivation, and we also have a plot for olive and fig varieties.”
Animal genetic resources are preserved using advanced methods. The NGBGRE Animal Tissue Cell Laboratory stores genetic materials at -196°C, preserving them so that they can potentially be used to enhance existing breeds.
The materials are collected, classified, and preserved in cryogenic freezers. Currently, the NGBGRE holds 144 genetic types of poultry and has begun working on tilapia fish genetics. Upcoming plans include collecting materials relating to Egyptian buffaloes, sheep, and goats.
“The duration of the process varies depending on the nature of the genetic resources concerned. The evaluation process for plant genetic resources runs for three years, while propagation occurs simultaneously with the evaluation process and only takes one year. An additional year is mandatory for data entry. The entire process takes two years of preparation,” Abdel-Fattah said.
The conservation of animal genetic resources is significantly faster, as tissue samples are collected and stored within a few months. The NGBGRE has also adopted advanced preservation techniques for plant genetic resources that propagate through cuttings and seedlings, eliminating the need for cultivation. Growing these plants would not accommodate the vast number of specimens requiring preservation. Planting them in fields can expose them to climate fluctuations that could affect their survival.
“Cryopreservation has greatly facilitated the conservation of species that cannot be preserved through seeds. The technique was developed by the NGBGRE and the Genetic Resources Bank in Fort Collins, Colorado, in the US. Our researchers travelled to the US to receive training on cryopreservation techniques, enabling us to store seedlings at a temperature of -196°C. This method has significantly contributed to safeguarding many genetic resources that could have been easily lost through traditional conservation methods,” she said.
CLIMATE CHANGE: The NGBGRE has recently prioritised the conservation and evaluation of plant genetic resources that are most vulnerable to climate challenges, specifically focusing on chickpeas and lentils to enhance their resilience against environmental threats.
It aims to improve their tolerance to heat, salinity, and drought, making them more adaptable to harsh environmental conditions. By eventually providing these varieties to breeders, it seeks to facilitate the development of new climate-resistant strains that can be cultivated in significant quantities, even in areas where such crops previously faced challenges. The initiative is crucial for expanding cultivation into new regions and plays a key role in reducing reliance on imports and bridging export gaps.
Through funding provided by the International Crop Institute and Crop Trust, the NGBGRE is launching a new Website and will undertake various other conservation efforts and essential maintenance work. Collaboration with this European institution has been instrumental in revitalising the gene bank, updating the database, and addressing delays in seed multiplication.
The online platform will allow visitors, including farmers, researchers, and breeders, to explore and select genetic resources while accessing detailed specifications and evaluations. As Abdel-Fattah explains, “visitors may choose the varieties best suited to their needs. By reviewing the accompanying data for each variety, they can determine its resistance to climate change, optimal temperature ranges, and the most suitable planting locations to maximise productivity.”
“Our digital presence can also raise awareness of the importance of genetic resources as a form of wealth that must be preserved. The NGBGRE is committed to educating farmers, students, and breeders on the significance of safeguarding cultivated genetic resources rather than relying solely on higher-yielding varieties, which risks the loss of the genetic diversity essential for the sustainability and advancement of agriculture.”
“In recent years, we have focused on preserving older varieties of plums, apricots, and peaches, as many have disappeared due to the introduction of newer cultivars. For instance, the peaches grown in Mit Ghamr, a city in the Daqahliya governorate, are known for their exceptional flavour. However, these peach trees have become more susceptible to pests, prompting some farmers to uproot them,” Abdel-Fattah said.
“We visited remote villages where the trees still exist but require specialised care. We supported farmers by providing guidance on proper fertilisation and pest-control methods to help sustain these valuable heritage trees.”
“Additionally, we have established a genetic repository that preserves all the traditional citrus varieties in Egypt, along with olive trees and white and black figs. These efforts aim to document and protect these crops, ensuring their continuity for future generations.”
The NGBGRE has samples of Egyptian varieties that are depicted on the walls of ancient Egyptian tombs and temples, including varieties of grapes, wheat, pomegranates, and figs. Certain historic varieties have retained their exceptional quality. For instance, pomegranates traditionally cultivated in Sohag can outperform newer varieties as they exhibit higher resistance to bacteria, not only in terms of resilience but also in providing health benefits to humans.
Another remarkable variety is Egyptian cumin, known for its distinctive flavour and highly beneficial chemical composition, making it a key export crop. Several Egyptian vegetable varieties boast a unique aroma and taste compared to their imported counterparts, which may have more yield but lack a distinctive flavour. Egyptian mangos are a prime example of the invaluable genetic resources that must be expanded to ensure their cultivation and propagation in the future.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 13 February, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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