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PLANT GERMPLASM BANK-upm |
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The UPM Plant Germplasm Bank began its activity in 1966, with a collection of Brassicaceae family seeds started by Professor Gómez Campo. Therefore, it is the first seed bank to be founded in Spain and also the first one in the world specialized in seeds of wild species. The project Artemis began in 1973; its aim was the ex situ conservation of plant species endemic to the Iberian Peninsula and the Macaronesian region. After almost 40 years storage, a study of the samples’ germinability showed high viability, close to 100% (Pérez-García et al. 2007, 2008). In 1982 the UPM Plant Germplasm Bank was designated base-bank for Brassicaceae by IBPGR (International Board for Plant Genetic Resources, nowadays Bioversity International). Since its beginning, the Bank has sent numerous samples to scientists or research institutes throughout the world for research projects that would have not been possible without the samples. For example, cytogenetic studies carried out in the United Kingdom, molecular systematic in Canada and USA, interspecific and intergeneric hybridizations in India, use of cytoplasm with male sterility in Japan, etc. (Gómez-Campo, 2007). In 1988 a gene from one of the Bank accessions was transferred to broccoli which increased its carcinostatic effect 30 times; quite possibly just this one project could could justify the existence of the Bank. This Bank has contributed to saving species in danger of extinction, as seed samples from the Bank facilitated the recovery of species’ populations that would have disappeared in Nature. One example is the project carried out with Diplotaxis siettiana, endemic to the Alborán Isalnd (Martínez-Laborde, 1998). It should be mentioned that the Bank has also contributed to ongoing promotion of other seed banks and to the training of technicians worldwide. Last, it should be mentioned that, through Professor César Gómez-Campo, several awards have been received: among the most important are the National Prize for Environment (Premio Nacional de Medio Ambiente, 1994), Fondena Prize for the Conservation of Nature (1997), “in recognition” award of the University of California (2002) and the Prize PlantaEuropa (2004). Dr. Gómez-Campo is now emeritus Professor of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. |
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