Why manage PGR information?
An organized digital information system provides fair and just opportunity for all to access Plant Genetic Resources (PGR).
What are Genetic Resources?
Convention on Biological Diversity implies genetic resource to be any “genetic material of actual and potential value”, and genetic material to be a “functional unit of heredity”. Thus, what is potential is a matter of interpretation and the state of technological advancements. Occasionally, genes, DNA fragments and RNA are also included under the purview of genetic resources.
What are Plant Genetic Resources (PGR)?
While the number of cultivated plant species is relatively small and seemingly insignificant, nature has evolved an extraordinary intra-specific genetic diversity in crop plants and their wild relatives. It is this diversity within species that allows for the cultivation of crops across different regions and in different situations such as weather and soil conditions. These invaluable and irreplaceable plant resources are called plant genetic resources. They form the basis of all crop varieties that are bred to produce more, withstand stresses and yield quality output.
What is PGR Informatics?
PGR Informatics, an emerging interdisciplinary science, is the application of information and communication technologies to collect, organize and analyze biological and environmental data about germplasm collections including phenotyping, genotyping, remote sensing, and phylo-climatic modelling. PGR Informatics manages (creation, storage, retrieval and presentation) and analyses (discovery, exploration and extraction) diverse information (facts, figures, statistics, knowledge and news) related to various aspects of augmentation, conservation, evaluation and utilization of plant genetic resources. Aim of PGR Informatics is to enhance the accessibility to relevant PGR information to enhance PGR utilization.