There are many reasons for collecting tree germplasm.There may bea need for planting material that will be distributedimmediately to users-farmers or horticul- :turists or extensionworkers. With the rapid rate of deforesta- tion throughout thetropics, many species of trees-and their: genetic wealth-areendangered and the collection may be.to conserve their germplasm for posterity. In addition, : germplasm may be collected because it is needed for tree-.improvement programmes. Germplasm collection is a key step in anyprocess to do-.mesticate trees;the genetic variation of a speciesshould be : present in the collected germplasm, and this is needed for. the selection and improvement that are part ofdomestica-:tion. Many tropical trees have undergone little or nodomes-.tication,so the best source of germplasm for improvement:of these species is wild populations.However,collecting is . also often done in exotic stands, because theyare relatively :easy to get at and they provide a good comparative base in.trials to assess the performance ofdifferent sources of . germ plasm
Publication year
1997
Authors
Language
English
Keywords
domestication, endangered species, germplasm, sampling, seed collection
Geographic
Kenya
