Wild Relatives of Crops Plants in India - Collection and Conservation

The National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), New Delhi is the nodal organization in India for the management of plant genetic resources (PGR). Since, its inception in 1976, efforts have been made for the collection and conservation of plant genetic resources including wild relatives. However, these activities gained impetus with the implementation of a mission mode sub-project on "Sustainable Management of Plant Biodiversity" under National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP). Realizing the importance of wild relatives and related taxa in crop improvement programmes, it became imperative to compile the available information on their collection and conservation for effective utilization. This compilation deals with the general introduction to the WRCPs with specific emphasis on collection and conservation activities by NBPGR and its partners.