3. Germplasm database

3.1 Management and utilization of database

While one researcher on the SSSP staff has always been in charge of the database management of the silkworm strains, nothing similar has been done for the mulberry accessions. As above-mentioned in the framework of the finalized project “Vegetal Genetic Resources for Research and Experiments in Agriculture” a database was produced and recorded on a CD, but it includes only the accessions of Italian origin (19 out of about 50 of the germplasm collection). The language used is Italian and no translation into English is provided. Furthermore, in the framework of the finalized project “New techniques to relaunch Italian mori-sericulture” ten formats containing information about and descriptions of ten cvs were produced; they are recorded using the Word software, but they have not been designed to be a part of a database. Moreover, they are only written in Italian.

Since creating a database on SSSP mulberry accessions is a real need, a three-year plan has recently been presented to the Ministry as part of SSSP ordinary activity, which will include the database redaction and its publishing on the Web with a link to the SSSP website. A translation into English will also be provided. The methodology is as follows: first of all gathering additional information on the cvs of the mulberry germplasm bank and elaborating the data collected in the above-mentioned projects; then, selecting images which can be useful to describe the accessions; subsequently, deciding the kind of descriptor to use or drawing a new descriptor apt to be quickly consulted in the web; eventually translating the database into Italian and English and in html with the purpose of publishing it. The FAO proposal regarding an international database on mulberry is regarded as an integration of this activity and a chance of exchanging opinions with other experts of moriculture.

3.2 Descriptors/Stock Characterization

Currently minimum descriptors are in use in the fifteen Institutes for Research and Experiments in Agriculture and, thus, also in the SSSP. They have been produced in the framework of the project “Vegetal Genetic Resources”. They have not been studied for the mulberry in particular, but they are apt to arboreous plants and give very general information about the preserved accessions. Another more accurate morphological characterization has been attempted by the SSSP. Examples of both the descriptors are given in the following chapter.

3.3 Samples of germplasm directory or stock catalogue

Minimum descriptor

1. Genus

2. Species

3. Sub-taxa

4. Collecting Institute code

5. Accession number

6. Accession name

7. Synonims

8. Country of origin

9. Site of origin

10. Accession status:

1) wild
2) selection
3) cultivar
4) landrace
5) unknown
6) other

11. Genetic status of the accession:

1) outbred population
2) inbred population
3) pure line strain
4) clone
5) mutation
6) hybrid
7) synthetic variety
8) backcross
9) other
10) unknown

12. Accession use:

1) fresh consumption
2) processing
3) ornamental
4) medicinal
5) wood
6) animal feed
7) other

13. Type of maintenance:

1) seed
2) in vivo
3) in vitro
4) cryo-preservation
5) other

14. Duplication:

1) none
2) at the same Institute
3) unknown
4) at another Institute with accession number

15. Data collection:

1) morphological characterization
2) agronomical characterization
3) biochemical-molecular characterization

16. Availability of the material:

1) yes
2) no

Morphological descriptor (ex: Cv Cattaneo female)

I. Phytogeographical information:

II Morphological traits:

Usual training shape: simple fist shape or stem with three branches; stem trained to a fixed height

ix) Thickness (m) Springtime leaf: 129.6 + 11.4, Re-sprouting leaf: 135.3 + 11.7

x) Hairs: scarce in the upper blade, well-evident in the lower blade especially on vein side

III. Reproductive structures

1) Sexuality: dioecious plant. Female unisexual inflorescences

3.4 Promotion of global sharing of germplasm information

It has recently been highlighted, on the occasion of the FAO electronic conference on “Animal nutrition”, that there are many countries that preserve mulberry genetic resources. The sheer size of the collections, the workload involved in maintaining and making them readily usable by breeders, and the uncertainty about the future needs of breeding programme make it impossible for one single country to effectively exploit all potentially useful genetic resources. In order to enhance effectiveness and efficiency of the conservation and use of mulberry genetic resources, countries that own mulberry germplasm should strictly cooperate. The approaches to reaching this goal may vary in terms of scope, ways in which responsibilities are shared and the level of integration of activities, but, if the eventual objective could be germplasm exchange, the first step to be undertaken is the global sharing of germplasm information. On the Italian side, there are no major problems in carrying out all the indispensable efforts, because the Italian Ministry for Agriculture and Forestry Policies, to which the SSSP belongs, with the governmental decree 4 June 1997 has been given the task of “conserving and defending biodiversity of the vegetal and animal world” and, as previously explained, it has already financed a project regarding “Vegetal genetics resources”.

However, if an international database on the mulberry is a remarkable goal, it should be underlined that there are many difficulties in order to reach the target; in some countries studies and characterization of the mulberry cultivars are scarce or not at a good level; information is usually available only for the technicians and experts who work in the restricted field of sericulture and often jargon is used, which is understood by few people; mulberry taxonomy is complicated and there is no real agreement on a universally accepted mulberry descriptor; local names are used to describe the same accessions that in other countries are known under different names; although they are rich in plants, most European countries have no real mulberry experts, or if they do they are old people who are not very used to speaking English or using computers; mulberry accessions which are preserved in Institutes often do not represent all the mulberry variability of the countries, because, as above-mentioned, old varieties are scattered in the countryside of most European countries which had had a sericultural tradition in the past.

To overcome, at least partially, these problems, the establishment of a Working group may be a pre-requisite. This group should make some decisions and, first of all, the participants should agree on one minimum descriptor. This descriptor should contain all the information useful to identify accessions, but it should not give too much information in this first phase. In fact, it is necessary to make the database homogeneous for all countries and, while some countries possess very accurate information about their collections, others have them at a very basic level. Members of the Working group should keep in contact by e-mail, for all the time necessary to draft a plan; however, the group should be open to the criticism of other experts and listen to the needs of different final users. The final proposal of the Working group could be evaluated by FAO and changed according to suggestions from all the parties involved.

In addition, conciseness is important when the information is put on the Web, to make downloading easier for users. For the same reason, in my opinion, it is advisable to avoid uploading of images in this first phase. Another important point is the English translation; usually most technicians know the scientific terms useful to illustrate the accessions and this knowledge may be sufficient to draft a minimum descriptor; however, translation must be provided by FAO in case experts have not familiarity with English. Furthermore, before publishing on the Web, a critical revision should be carried out by some of the members of the Working group, to ascertain if linguistic and scientific standards have been fulfilled. Eventually, the Working group should work on the name of accessions. Some spelling errors in translation from one language to another could be corrected and probably in this way the number of different accessions could be reduced.

The database could be linked to the websites of the Institutes where mulberry germplasm is conserved, so that users can obtain more information about the particular accessions they are interested in.

This first minimum descriptor could be a starting point for the Working group. In fact, on the basis of the Italian experience, it is difficult to discriminate among species and varieties in the mulberry only on a phenotypic basis. Recently genetic analysis (AFLP based fingerprints) has shown that some different species are more genetically similar than some cvs that were believed to belong to the same species. Cvs cultivated in different Italian localities and called with different names have been proved to be the same varieties. For this reason, ideally the genetic analysis of all the preserved accessions is advisable to determine their grade of divergence. In order to reach this aim the exchange of genetic material is indispensable. In the case of the mulberry (which is different under this aspect from the silkworm), generally there have never been major constraints in exchanging varieties between Institutes, so this is a concrete research hypothesis. On the other hand, the funds to analyse the accessions could be found under an international project, sponsored e.g. by FAO or other international donors. This project could be important in order to update the minimum descriptors used in the first phase of the database publication.

Possible use of mulberry accessions should be already indicated in the minimum descriptors. However, the Working group should be given the task of updating the related lines/chapters/files, when other possible uses are discovered. Updating of the database should be forecast from the beginning, since nowadays progress in research is very fast. Electronic conferences held at fixed intervals of time could be the means to inform all the scientific community involved in mulberry research about new findings and FAO could have an active role in the promotion and organization of this kind of events.

3.4.1 Other subjects

As previously written, mulberry collections are usually kept in Institutes which are also in charge of silkworm germplasm maintenance. For this reason, description of mulberry accessions is only finalized to the silkworm. In creating a mulberry database, alternative uses of mulberry should be kept in mind. It is, thus, important that some members of the Working group are not sericulturists, but e.g. experts of livestock or of fruit cultivation, who could bring to the discussion the experience in their own field.

Notwithstanding the above-mentioned difficulties, if there is a genuine determination by all participants in the promotion of the global sharing of germplasm information, all problems will be overcome and the project implemented.

3.4.2 Global sharing of germplasm

The global sharing of information could help to establish contacts and links between Institutes and could result in an easier exchange of germplasm. Generally speaking, there are no limitations in this sense on the basis of the Italian legislation and it is the same for many other countries. Often directors of Institutes can freely decide on the matter. For this reason, reinforcing of scientific collaboration and cooperation between similar Institutions in different countries will naturally result in a global exchange of germplasm.

3.5 Application and utilization of germplasm database for farmers and extension workers training

In my opinion germplasm information on the Web will not be used directly by farmers or extension workers for the following reasons. In fact, even if PC facilities, Internet usage and English knowledge were largely spread all around the world and even in developing countries, it could not be possible that farmers look at the descriptors as a catalogue from which they can order what they need. Also technicians (extension workers) probably do not have the sufficient scientific knowledge to choose from a list the right variety for a particular zone and situation. Moreover, also if they could, the Institutes that conserve the accessions would not be able to produce a large quantity of plantlets and could not commercialise them. My point of view is that sharing of information could help to carry out co-operative research among Institutes in different countries (including developing ones) and the results of this research could be exploited in order to give advantages to farmers. Research should be focussed on solving problems related to practical situations; e.g. a salt tolerant cv can be selected on the basis of the international collaboration among Institutes and experimented under field conditions to verify its production and resistance. If the test is positive, the cv could be multiplied by private local companies, farmer organizations or governmental technical assistance that would give it to farmers of the saline areas of a country. Extension service workers, trained with regard to the cultivation of this cv, could, in turn, train the farmers about the possibilities and limits of the new selected variety. Germplasm information could be interesting also for private companies that may fund research on mulberry accessions. Obviously, in this case, patents will be used to protect the newly selected cvs, but Government Authorities could intervene to regulate the final price of plants to farmers; low price of the final product could be imposed as a pre-requisite to obtain the Institute germplasm and collaboration in the research. Another strategy is that the Government of the interested country itself or International donors help farmers in paying the extra cost (due to the patent) of the new selected cv, because in this way saline soils can be re-forested, the global environment has an advantage from this kind of cultivation, farmers are not obliged to leave the land and become urbanized.