Conservation of Genetic Diversity in Culture Plants

The most important international document relating to the conservation of biodiversity is one adopted by theUN in Rio de Janeiro (1992) that "Convention on Biodiversity". Based on this agreement, the EU has taken a series ofmeasures to reduce genetic erosion in agriculture, which grew with the expansion of industrialized agriculture.Throughout its existence, mankind has used some 10,000 growing plant species. According to FAO statistics, today,90% of food production is ensured by some 120 growing plant species. In addition to drastic reduction in specificdiversity, the advent of industrialized agriculture has generated a process of strong genetic erosion. Old varieties andlocal varieties of crops have mostly been affected, in favour of "modern" varieties. Landraces are characterized by highheterogenity. They have the advantage of being much better adapted to biotic and abiotic stress conditions (diseases,pests, drought, low in nutrients, etc.) and have excellent taste qualities, which can justify a higher price recovery thancommercial varieties. Thanks to these features, these crops need small inputs, which correspond to the concept ofsustainable development. Landraces are an invaluable genetic potential for obtaining new varieties of plants and are bestsuited for crop cultivation in ecological systems, becoming more common. Also, for long term food security in thecontext of global warming, rich genetic diversity will be require. “In situ” and “ex situ” conservation are the two majorstrategies used in the conservation of plant genetic resources. There is a fundamental difference between these twostrategies: “ex situ” conservation involves sampling, transfer and storage of a particular species population away fromthe original location, while “in situ” conservation (in their natural habitat) implies that the varieties of interest,management and monitoring their place of origin takes place in the community to which they belong. These twostrategies should not be viewed as alternatives or in opposition, but a complementary approach is required. Obviously,only the on farm preservation, with traditional technologies, allows a sustainable management of the varieties, becausethese, in their natural habitat, can continue their evolutionary processes under the pressures of the environment, man,and technology. Romania, with an agricultural area of 14,722 millions Ha, still has a very rich diversity of conservationvarieties in plants growing, but they risk losing if appropriate action is taken.