1. Centre for Genetic Resources, the Netherlands Information Standards for Plant Genebanks Theo van Hintum Centre for Genetic Resources, The Netherlands

2. Centre for Genetic Resources, the Netherlands Information Standards for Plant Genebanks the context and big issues basis of further discussion in other sessions plant genebanks in historical context the resulting documentation landscape data structures in use in genebanks standardisation in plant genebank documentation

3. Centre for Genetic Resources, the Netherlands Information Standards for Plant Genebanks plant genebanks in historical context farmers have been domesticating crops since c. 10,000 years selection adapted phenotypes from wild populations in ‘centers of origin’ result: landraces

4. Centre for Genetic Resources, the Netherlands Information Standards for Plant Genebanks Vaviliov’s centres of origin

5. Centre for Genetic Resources, the Netherlands Information Standards for Plant Genebanks plant genebanks in historical context since c. 1850 crop genetic diversity disappears due to monocultures and habitat destruction scientific plant breeding based on Mendel and de Vries urbanization, desertification, climate change result: genetic erosion

6. Centre for Genetic Resources, the Netherlands Information Standards for Plant Genebanks plant genebanks in historical context to keep the diversity available it needs to be conserved ex situ: collections under controlled conditions (genebanks) in situ: protection wild species in nature on-farm: use and development of diversity in ‘traditional’ farming systems genebanks are the ex situ component in the range of conservation approaches evolved from research and breeding collections estimated 500 in Europe

7. Centre for Genetic Resources, the Netherlands Information Standards for Plant Genebanks plant genebanks in historical context living collections

8. Centre for Genetic Resources, the Netherlands Information Standards for Plant Genebanks DB management in the documentation landscape local documentation systems of genebanks paper spreadsheets proper databases

9. Centre for Genetic Resources, the Netherlands Information Standards for Plant Genebanks the landscape is complex holding institute ex situ PGR holding institute ex situ PGR holding institute ex situ PGR holding institute ex situ PGR holding institute ex situ PGR holding institute ex situ PGR holding institute ex situ PGR holding institute ex situ PGR holding institute ex situ PGR Inventory National Inventory National Inventory National MCPD ex situ exchange format MCPD ECCD B

10. Centre for Genetic Resources, the Netherlands Information Standards for Plant Genebanks data categories in plant genebanks genebank management data internal use only (data models vary) passport data broad external use (institute, national, European, incl. breeders) fairly standardized (Multi-Crop Passport Descriptor (MCPD) list) characterization & evaluation data broad external use (breeders, researchers, others incl. institutes) limited availability range of models varying level of detail data about distribution and use of germplasm institute (internal), national, international administration (e.g. Treaty)

11. Centre for Genetic Resources, the Netherlands Information Standards for Plant Genebanks format or coding systems for plant genebanks passport data MCPD widely accepted descriptor list for data exchange – simple – incomplete and not expandable MCPD contains or refers to coding systems for a/o countries, origin types, population types – institute codes remains a problem – attempt of World Information and Early Warning System on Plant Genetic Resources (WIEWS) no systems for taxonomy, or other descriptors (user type, coordinate type, etc.)

12. Centre for Genetic Resources, the Netherlands Information Standards for Plant Genebanks format or coding systems for plant genebanks characterization and evaluation data no accepted data structure for C&E exchange – level of detail important due to GxE interaction – some proposals have been developed now trait names not standardized – several standards are available (Bioversity, UPOV) with rather low acceptance, incomplete crop coverage and not expandable – ontologies are being developed

13. Centre for Genetic Resources, the Netherlands Information Standards for Plant Genebanks next steps facilitation information exchange change of MCPD to become more flexible to accommodate new (ITPGRFA and AEGIS) requirements development better standards for institutions taxonomy development C&E exchange format introduction and use of life science identifiers (LSID) allow exchange with data outside the plant genebank community compliance to Access to Biological Collection Data (ABCD 2.06)

14. Centre for Genetic Resources, the Netherlands Information Standards for Plant Genebanks summarizing remarks plant genebank documentation developed locally local solutions no standardization passport data were exchanged need further standardization C&E data are the next major step format for data exchange needed ontologies needed part of TDWG community