Conservation and management of genetic resources of horticultural crops in Nigeria: Issues and biotechnological strategies

Plant genetic resources (PGR) are basic requirements in crop improvement programme and their importance have increased in recent years with the changing scenario of ownership and legal regimes in relation to biodiversity. Horticultural genetic resources (HGR) are subset of agro-biodiversity that is related to garden crop species or their wild genepool, having genetic material of actual or potential value. Horticultural crops comprise diverse economic species ranging from the fruits/nuts, vegetables, spices and condiments, ornamental plants, aromatic and medicinal plants. Besides the tangible materials, HGR also encompass the indigenous knowledge accumulated over ages among gardeners, and which surround the use of such biological resources. The exploration, collection, characterization, evaluation and utilization of HGR are enormous tasks in a country like Nigeria with wide diversity of these vital groups of plants. Yet relatively little effort hitherto has been made to harness these natural resources of great potential values for food and agriculture, health care, national economy, industrial development and environmental protection. This paper therefore, examined the present status of HGR in Nigeria, the scientific management aspects of the HGR including their diversity, conservation and sustainable use. It also addressed crucial concerns regarding conservation biotechnology in Nigeria vis-a-vis management of the HGR.