Genetic Resources Center

IITA’s genebank holds plant material (germplasm) of major food crops of Africa. This germplasm is held in trust on behalf of humanity under the auspices of the United Nations. It is distributed without restriction for use in research for food and agriculture.

Introduction

IITA online germplasm database

IITA Germplasm Collections

Select and Order Germplasm

Introduction

Plant and animal genetic resources are the foundation for sustainable agriculture and global food security. Genetic diversity enables plants to adapt to new pest and diseases as well as to climatic and environmental changes (drought tolerance, soil erosion, human preferences, etc.).

Agrobiodiversity is the component of biodiversity that contributes to food and agriculture.

Today, the world is losing genetic resources at unprecedented rates. The biological basis for food security is fast disappearing. Agricultural sustainability is therefore dependent on a strong conservation component.

Biodiversity can either be maintained in or out of its natural environment, i.e. in or ex situ.

IITA ex situ conservation activity started in the mid-seventies with the establishment of a genebank.

Depending on species reproductive/dissemination biology, collections are either stored in field-, seed- or in vitro genebanks. All crops producing orthodox seeds are maintained at optimal water content in medium- (5 ºC and 30–35% relative humidity) or long-term (-20 ºC, under vacuum) storage conditions.

Clonal crops, i.e., vegetatively propagated, are either maintained in field- and/or in vitro banks.

Germplasm collections

Major crops in IITA genebank

IITA’s genebank holds over 28 000 accessions of major food crops of Africa, namely cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), cassava (Manihot esculenta), yam (Dioscorea sp.), soybean (Glycine max), bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea), maize (Zea mays), and plantain and banana (Musa sp.) (See table below for details). In addition, substantial Vigna wild relatives and miscellaneous legumes collections have been collected over the past 30 years and more recently a small collection of African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa), an under-used legume.

Germplasm data
Passport and characterization data of germplasm is available on line (click here) or via the System-wide Information Network on Genetic Resources (click here).

Select and Order Germplasm

Ordering germplasm

1. Select Germplasm using IITA on line genebank database
2. Provide a summary of the intended use of germplasm.
3. Accept STANDARD Material transfer agreement.

Germplasm transfer involves SMTA (Standard Material Transfer Agreement [Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish] and annex 1 list).

Upon receiving confirmation that you agree with the term of the transfer, a hard copy of this agreement will be included in the seed pack you will receive. Opening this pack will confirm you agree with the terms of the transfer (shrink wrap agreement).

4. Provide official documents stipulating import permit and phytosanitary certificate requirements to import selected germplasm to the importing country.

This document must be issued or endorsed by the Plant Quarantine and Protection Services of the receiving country (click here for PQS addresses worldwide). Depending on stock and importing country phytosanitary requirements, distribution may take from 2 to 16 months (time to regenerate stock and/or perform sanitation).

For additional information please contact genebank (click here)