Current Status of Plant Genetic Resources in

Jordan

S. Saifan*S. Saifan

Information paper submitted to the second meeting of the CB of the NENA-PGRN 18-20 Sep 2012 Cairo EgyptNENA-PGRN, 18-20 Sep. 2012, Cairo, Egypt

* National Center for Agricultural Research and Extension (NCARE), Jordan. Head, Plant genetic resources unit, NENA‐PGRN national focal point. P.O.Box 639‐Baqa'19381 Jordan, Tel: 00962 6 4725071. Fax: 00962 6 4726099. E‐mail: saifan_sabah@yahoo.com,

InsideBiogeography and biodiversity of Jordan

Inside…

(Value of Jordanian plant biodiversity, Threats of plant diversity and PGR in Jordan)

International treaties and national respond

Institutes interested in PGR in Jordan

Management of PGR in Jordan

Gaps and needsGaps and needs

Biogeography and biodiversity of Jordan Altitude (-400 m to1750 masl). Rinfall (50- 600 mm)

Eco-geographical Zones: The highland mountains region; the eastern desert; the Jordan valley; and the Aqaba gulf

Vegetation types (13):Pine forest, evergreen oak forest, Deciduous oak forest, Juniper forest, Mediterranean non-forest region, steppe vegetation, Halophytic, Sandy dunes,

d l d kHammada, Tropical, Acacia and rocky vegetation, Hydrophytic, and Mud flats

Species richness: 9.1 species/100 km² ( i 2001)(Danin, 2001).

Diversity:2500 species (1% of the total world fl )

Vegetation map illustrates natural vegetation of Jordan

flora)152 families700 genera (Jordan country study, 1998).

Value of Jordanian plant biodiversity- Direct utilization: edible for human, grazing for animals, parent of

cultivated species,

- Jordan flora figure out important landraces and wild relatives of globally important crops (wheat barley oat lentil vetch cowpea peasglobally important crops (wheat, barley, oat, lentil, vetch, cowpea, peas, etc.).

- Include valuable genetic resources for crop improvements (drought and saline resistant plants medicinal soil fixing nitrogen fixing andand saline resistant plants, medicinal, soil fixing, nitrogen fixing, and disease resistance).

- Contain species adapted to the Jordan environment and are integral to th t i bilit f d ti t d h th id d kthe sustainability of production systems and hence they considered key for comprehensive national development.

Threats of plant diversity and PGR in Jordan

Climate change Over-grazing Deforestation

Habitat degradation and fragmentation cause loss of geneticHabitat degradation and fragmentation cause loss of genetic diversity and lead to genetic vulnerability and erosion

Over collectionAgricultural UrbanizationAgricultural development

Urbanization

Jordan and the international treatiesInternational treaties relevant to PGR and ratified by JordanInternational treaties relevant to PGR and ratified by Jordan

Treaty Year GoalsInternational convention for the protectionof new varieties (UPOV)

1991protect intellectual property rights (IPR) fornew varietiesof new varieties (UPOV) new varieties

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) 1992Conservation BD, Sustainable utilization,Benefets sharing

UN framework convention on climate Develop national frameworks to faceUN a ewo co ve t o o c atechange

1994eve op at o a a ewo s to ace

climate change impact

The Cartagana protocol for biosafety 2000Adopt protocols and regulations for safemovement and use of GMO.

International Treaty on plant geneticresources for food and Agriculture(ITPGRFA)

2001Maintain PGRFA, Sustainable utilization ofPGRFA, Equitable and benefit sharing

The Nagoya – Kuala Lumpur Conservation and sustainable use of BD toThe Nagoya – Kuala LumpurSupplementary Protocol on Liability andRedress.

2010Conservation and sustainable use of BD toprotect from damage resulting from livingmodified organisms (LMOs)

The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Geneticsharing the benefits arising from the

Resources and the Fair and EquitableSharing of Benefits Arising from theirUtilization to the CBD

2010sharing the benefits arising from theutilization of genetic resources in a fair andequitable way

Policy Issued by Year

Policies and strategies relevant to PGR in Jordan

National Environmental Strategy (NES) Ministry of Municipal, Rural affairs and environment

1991

National Environmental Action Plan Ministry of Planning 1995(NEAP)Water Strategy and Policies Ministry of Water 1998National Agenda 21 General Corporation for 2001

Environmental ProtectionPoverty Reduction Strategy Ministry of Social Development 2001

National strategy for agricultural Higher Socio-economic Council 2002development (2000-2010)Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan Ministry of Environment 2002

National Strategy for Tourism Ministry of Tourism 2004National Energy Strategy Ministry of Energy 2005National Strategy and Action Plan to Combat Desertification

Ministry of Environment 2005

The National Agenda Royal National Agenda Committee 2006

National strategy for plant conservation (WS &CWR)

Under discussion

National institutes interested in Plant genetic i J dresources in Jordan

National Centre for Agriculture and Extension (NCARE)

Ministry of Agriculture (MOA).

Mi i t f E i t (MOE) Ministry of Environment (MOE).

The Royal Society for Conservation Nature (RSCN).

Jordan Universities.

The Royal Botanic Garden The Royal Botanic Garden.

The Higher Council for Science and Technology

(HCST).

Management of plant genetic resources in Jordan

C ll ti

During 1952 and 1977 old cultivars of durum wheat have been collected

Collection

During 1952 and 1977 old cultivars of durum wheat have been collected and deposited at USDA and in BARI gene banks.

Collection in cooperation with ICARDA (1981-2012), more than 1300 accessions of cereals and legumes were collected.

Collection in cooperation with BI (1995, 2012) for cereals and vegetable landraceslandraces.

Collection in cooperation with Kew garden/UK (2001-2009) for wild species .

Collection in cooperation with IPK genebank (2012) for wild barley.

Collection of various plant species conducted by NCARE (1996-2012)

Frequent collection in cooperation with Jordanian research institutes.

Conservation (Ex situ) of PGR in Jordan

National seed bank at NCARE

Field Banks: 3 fields (NCARE) maintained old cultivars and stocks of olive, almond, pistachio,cultivars and stocks of olive, almond, pistachio, pomegranate, fig and medicinal..

Botanic gardens:RBG, UOJ (research d h b i )and herbaria)

In vitro: under research In vitro: under research

Conservation (Ex situ) of PGR in JordanNational gene Bank at NCARE (1996)

Capability

- Laboratory and seed drying facilityLaboratory and seed drying facility

- Cold stores (0 - 4c) and (-10 to -20c)

- Herbarium unit with 4000 specimens collected since 1886.

Conservation (In situ) of PGR in Jordan

Agrobidiversity project: on-farm conservation (6)

Medicinal plant project:12 sites designated for12 sites designated forIn situ conservation

RSCN: 13 protected areas (natural reserves)( )

MoA: 15 natural reserves

IdentificationCollectionCollecting system

Gundelia turnifortii

Wild Barley, 2012

Hordeum vulgare subsp. Spontaneum 72 acc from 30 site, May 2012

Genebank databaseGenebank database- Data management facilities

capable to connect with GIS.

Common data

NCARE genebank progress 1996-2012

Families 87

Diversity4500

Families 87

Genera 435

Species 656 3000

3500

4000

Species 656

Subspecies 65

2000

2500

3000

1000

1500

2000

0

500

1000

1994 1997 2000 2003 2006 2009 2012

Crop type percentage conserved at NCARE genebank (2012)genebank (2012)

%

15%

Cereals

Forage Legumes

48%5%

8%

15% Forage Legumes

Food Legumes

Medicinal Plants

9%

8%

Oil seeds

Others

Range Shrubs

3%0%

3%

Trees

Vegetables

Wild Plants1%

Activities and utilization of PGR in Jordan(Utili ti f l t ti i J d i categori ed

Activity Percentage (%)

(Utilization of plant genetic resources in Jordan is categorizedby research type)

Activity Percentage (%)Collection 23.95Conservation 23.95Multiplication 2.99Plant protection 0.60R h bilit ti 4 79Rehabilitation 4.79Water research 1.20Strategy and plans 3.59Strategy and plans 3.59Evaluation 25.75Direct Utilization 1.20Climate change 2.40Biotechnology and tissue culture 9.58

New Jordan plant checklist (2521 species), IUCN & RBG

No Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species

1PlantaeAngiospermae Oppositifoliae

(Dicotyledoneae) Scrophulariales Acanthaceae Acanthus syriacus

2PlantaeAngiospermae Oppositifoliae

(Dicotyledoneae) Scrophulariales Acanthaceae Blepharis attenuata2Plantae (Dicotyledoneae) Scrophulariales Acanthaceae Blepharis attenuata

3Plantae Pterophyta Pteridopsida Polypodiales Adiantaceae Adiantumcapillus-veneris

4PlantaeAngiospermae Oppositifoliae

(Dicotyledoneae) Caryophyllales Aizoaceae Aizoon canariense

5PlantaeAngiospermae Oppositifoliae

(Dicotyledoneae) Caryophyllales Aizoaceae Aizoon hispanicum

6PlantaeAngiospermae Oppositifoliae

(Dicotyledoneae) Caryophyllales AizoaceaeMesembryanthemum nodiflorum

Angiospermae Oppositifoliae7Plantae

Angiospermae Oppositifoliae (Dicotyledoneae) Caryophyllales Aizoaceae Opophytum forsskalii

Jordan plant Red list, IUCN & RBG

Utilization of PGR in JordanUtilization of plant genetic resources in Jordancategorized by crop type.

Crop Percentage (%)Wheat 15.70B l 15 70Barley 15.70Chickpea 1.65Lentils 4 13Lentils 4.13Bean 2.48forage legumes 4.96Trees 20.66Vegetables 8.26Medicinal and aromatic 9.92Others 16.53

Exchanging PGR at NCARE genebank (1996-2012). Loan seedsYear No. of accessions Crop type 1996 01996 01997 271998 101999 13 FL VEG Wheat Barley1999 13 FL, VEG, Wheat, Barley2000 29 Wheat,VEG2001 85 Wheat,VEG, Tree (Pyrus sp), FL2002 96 VEG WS2002 96 VEG, WS2003 16 WS2004 26 Tree (Pistacia), VEG, MP2005 77 MP, VEG, FL2005 77 MP, VEG, FL2006 19 Wheat, Tree (Moringa), MP (Thymus sp., Mellissa sp)2007 85 MP, VEG, Sh, Barley2008 24 FL, VEG, MP, Tree, Barley, , , , y2009 74 MP, VEG, Wheat (wild), 2010 16 Oil seed (Sesamum), Ornamental (Orchis sp.)2011 50 VEG, MP2012 200 Barley, WS, VEG, MP, TreeTotal 847FL: Forage legumes, MP: Medicinal plant, Sh: Shrub, VEG: Vegetables, WLP: Wild species.

Gaps and needs legal constraints like:

• Lack of a specified PGR legislative for regulating access to genetic resourcesp g g g gand benefits sharing.

• Lack of systematic integration of the conservation, sustainable useand benefits sharing concepts in the national policy formulation processand benefits sharing concepts in the national policy formulation process.

• Lack of economic incentives and valuation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

• Weak linkages between research and policy making.

• Weak enforcement of laws and legislations• Weak enforcement of laws and legislations.

Need to improve the coverage of diversity in ex situ collections including- Need to improve the coverage of diversity in ex situ collections, including CWR and farmer varieties, coupled with better documentation, characterization, and evaluation of collections.

- Need for awareness about PGRFA including MLS and ABS.

- Need attention toward conservation and use of PGRFA of neglected and gunderutilized crops and non food crops.

- Capacity building in management for PGR (seed technology, taxonomy, cyto-genetics, breeding, ex situ, in situ and on-farm PGR management).

- Institutional collaboration is important for sustainable utilization of PGR, i J d th i till l k f l t di ti h iin Jordan there is still lack of a long-term coordination mechanism between institutions working in PGR in general and PGRFA in particular. In addition there is a lack of local community and farmer institutions that enable the sustainable use of PGRFAenable the sustainable use of PGRFA.

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