Who is sowing our seeds? A systematic review of the use of plant genetic resources in research

Collections of plant genetic resources managed by genebanks function to conserve the range of genetic diversity present in crop genepools. They can facilitate access to valuable allelic variation for both plant breeders and researchers who are able to request germplasm for use in crop improvement and both basic and applied scientific research. The direct impact of genebank collections is often unclear as downstream uses of germplasm samples may not be reported back to the genebank of origin. This study aims to systematically review scientific use of germplasm using the UK Vegetable Genebank (UKVGB) as a model. Between the years of 1980–2016, a total of 271 publications were identified as using UKVGB material. The frequency of publications and the international nature of use increased significantly over the time period studied. Accessions directly sourced from the UKVGB made up the majority of material used by researchers, but material from research-derived resources such as differential sets and core collections or diversity sets have also been used. Resistance to pests and diseases and genetic diversity were the main topics of study although germplasm was used to address a wide range of other research questions. Genebanks such as UKVGB provide an essential resource of allelic diversity in crop genepools which supports a diverse range of research projects. The utilisation of these plant genetic resources has increased over time, contributing to a substantial number of publications. Developments in sequencing technologies have no doubt played a part as larger numbers of accessions can be utilized in a single experiment, but the increase also no doubt reflects a greater interest in the use of allelic diversity to overcome challenges in crop improvement and research.