Biotic Diversity and Germplasm Preservation, Global Imperatives (Beltsville Symposia in Agricultural Research, 13)

Topics for the Beltsville Symposia are selected to highlight specific areas of research and science policy that are of concern to scientists in the Beltsville Area as well as to the general scientific community. Each sympo­ sium in the series is structured to provide a realistic appraisal of current findings, research progress, and relevant policy issues within the constraints established by the organizing committee. Thus, the presentations and dis­ cussions that have marked these symposia have had a strong appeal to the broad community of scientists. Knowledge of the diversity of living organisms is still quite limited. Since the time of Linnaeus, about 1.7 million species have been described. The actual number has been estimated between 5-50 million. Many species, land races, and strains are vanishing. Clearly, the world's scientific institutions are inadequately equipped to attain sufficient knowledge of a significant fraction of the diverse living forms. Also, efforts in the collection and preservation of germplasm of plants and animals urgently need to be strengthened. These mattes are critically important to future generations. This symposium addresses vital concerns of biotic diversity and germ­ plasm preservation from diverse perspectives. Many of the parts provide concrete recommendations for action, and they call attention to areas of research that must be pursued with intensity. Front Matter....Pages i-xxii Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Systematics, diversity, and germplasm....Pages 3-11 Germplasm preservation: objectives and needs....Pages 13-41 Culture and care: ethical and policy dimensions of germplasm conservation....Pages 43-62 Ecology of agroecosystems in relation to natural ecosystems....Pages 63-77 Front Matter....Pages 79-79 Plant germplasm preservation: a global perspective....Pages 81-96 Program for plant germplasm preservation in the United States: the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System....Pages 97-115 Development of research on crop germplasm resources in China....Pages 117-125 Management and use of plant germplasm collections....Pages 127-159 Population genetics and the dynamics of conservation....Pages 161-181 Front Matter....Pages 183-183 Sampling, evaluation and utilization of animal genetic resources....Pages 185-204 Why are there so many species of mollicutes? An essay on prokaryote diversity....Pages 205-240 Microbial germplasm....Pages 241-273 Gene transfer in plants....Pages 275-291 Alteration of the genome as a method to increase diversity in animal germplasm resources....Pages 293-309 Enhancement of plant germplasm....Pages 311-322 The impact of biotechnology on conventional germplasm conservation and use....Pages 323-334 Front Matter....Pages 335-335 Cryopreservation of animal germplasm resources....Pages 337-353 Invertebrate germplasm cryopreservation: potential, problems, and prospects....Pages 355-377 Techniques for preserving of plant germplasm....Pages 379-403 Plant germplasm acquisition and exchange....Pages 405-417 Front Matter....Pages 335-335 Plant germplasm information systems....Pages 419-426 Animal germplasm information systems....Pages 427-443 Accessibility of world germplasm resources: animal health constraints....Pages 445-455 Front Matter....Pages 457-457 Plant genetic resource initiatives in international development....Pages 459-476 Threatened habitats and germplasm preservation: a Central American perspective....Pages 477-492 Ownership of plant genetic material....Pages 493-497 Plant germplasm and the economics of agriculture....Pages 499-513 Summary of symposium....Pages 515-519 Back Matter....Pages 521-530 Invited papers presented at a symposium held May 9-11, 1988 at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC),Beltsville, Maryland