Developments on Core Collections of Plant Genetic Resources: Do We Know Enough?

Abstract

The core collection is a small subset that minimizes genetic redundancy while preserving the maximum genetic diversity of the entire population. Research on the core collection is crucial for the efficient management and utilization of germplasm resources. In this paper, the concept of the core collection and the research progress of its construction have briefly been summarized. Subsequently, some perspectives have been proposed in this research field for the near future. Four novel opinions have been presented, (1) the effective integration of multiple data types and accurate phenotyping methods need to be focused on; (2) the sampling strategy and bioinformatics software should be given attention; (3) the core collection of afforestation tree and bamboo species, with a wide natural distribution range and a large planting area, need to be carried out as soon as possible; (4) we should place a high priority on the study of genes discoveries and utilize these with a rapid, precise and high-throughput pattern based on re-sequencing technology. This paper provides a theoretical and technological reference for further study and the application of the plant core collection.

Cross-Species Transferability of SSR Markers for Analyzing Genetic Diversity of Different Vicia species Collections

“…One issue in genebanks is the high volume of samples in some collections, which makes it challenging to maintain, characterize, document, and subsequently use them. The establishment of core collections, with a minimum number of nonredundant individuals having the maximum variability of the entire germplasm collection, largely alleviates this problem [56]. Compared with analyzing a complete germplasm collection, core collection characterization and evaluation is simpler and quicker.…”

Characterization of the genetic composition and establishment of a core collection for the INERA Robusta coffee (Coffea canephora) field genebank from the Democratic Republic of Congo

“…There are multiple strategies to construct a core collection, but in recent years, the maximization strategy, which aims to maximize the genetic diversity, and the genetic distance method, which aims to maximize the genetic distance, are the two most commonly used strategies (Gu et al, 2023). In this study, we applied these two core collection strategies to the Yangambi coffee collection, representing the screened genetic diversity within the 263 unique genetic fingerprints (Figure 5).…”

“…A core collection is a subset of the entire collection of germplasm (seeds, plants, or tissues) of a particular species that captures the most diversity with minimal redundancy (Brown, 1989). Currently, there are two complementary, commonly used strategies to construct a core collection: i) the maximization (M) strategy, which focuses on selecting the most diverse loci to maximize the genetic diversity of the core collection and ii) the genetic distance method, which aims to select the most diverse plant material within a collection to maximize the genetic distance between the entries of the core collection (Gu et al, 2023). Leroy et al (2014) 2014) created an optimal core collection containing 77 accessions, which can be effectively utilized in research centers and in the context of improving coffee production through breeding efforts.…”

Construction of a Core Collection of Korean Pine (Pinus koraiensis) Clones Based on Morphological and Physiological Traits and Genetic Analysis

“…Core collection resources are a novel approach to the utilisation and preservation of germplasm resources. Core collections perform a crucial function in the management and utilisation of genetic resources [10].…”