History

Management

Location

Conservation

Collections

Related Links

Plant germplasm bank-upm

iNtroduction

Cuadro de texto: The Plant Germplasm  Bank of the Technical University of Madrid (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, UPM) belongs to the Plant Biology Department (Departamento de Biología Vegetal). Its main objective is to contribute to the ex situ conservation of wild plant species. 
The Plant Germplasm Bank is comprised of a seed bank, an in vitro conservation unit, and a field collection.  The seed bank is the main core of the Germplasm Bank. Currently it preserves around 10,000 accessions of 3,500 species. There are two main collections, one devoted to endemic and endangered species of the Iberian Peninsula, Balearic islands and the Macaronesian region; the other to species of the  Brassicaceae family. Recenty an in vitro  conservation unit has been incorporated to maintain   germplasm of  Narcissus cavanillesii and Borderea chouardii under limited growth conditions, and a field collection of Mediterranean shrubby leguminosae  species. 
The fact that the Plant Germplasm Bank belongs to a university department allows intensive and ongoing research activity  in subjects related to the Bank;  the stored plant material has been subject of numerous studies on characterization and on seed germination/conservation. The research activity of the Plant Biology Department can be found in the annual research reports (“Memorias de investigación”).

Versión española

Webmasters: M. Elena González Benito and David Draper Munt

Last update:  30-01-2009