Abstract
This paper explores the history of descriptor lists (DLs)—scientific standards for documenting plant genetic resources—which have been published by Bioversity International since 1976 (formerly IBPGR 1974–1991; IPGRI 1991–2006). Each DL represents an important tool; together, they constitute the basis for a standardized characterization system that provides an internationally agreed format and universally understood ‘language’ for plant genetic resources data. The paper also presents an analysis of data collected through questionnaires and web statistics on the impact of DLs in order to understand their use by major stakeholders. The usefulness of Bioversity’s DLs was measured in terms of their value in facilitating the establishment of databases, and improving collaborations and information exchange among organizations. Most survey respondents reported that they not only used Bioversity’s DLs, but recognized them as the standards for plant genetic resources data collection and management. Bioversity’s DLs are widely respected because they are developed by large groups of crop specialists. Together, the DLs are helping Bioversity to meet the ambitious objective of establishing a Clearing-House Mechanism as set forth by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Article 18.3, which seeks to promote and facilitate information exchange among parties, Governments and stakeholders in order to assure a full implementation of the CBD. A number of areas for improvement were identified, although some of them are either outside Bioversity’s mandate or depend on human or financial capital for implementation.
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Notes
From 1974 to 1991, Bioversity was known as the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources (IBPGR), and from 1991 to 2006 as the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI). Since December 2006, IPGRI has been operating under the name Bioversity International. We refer to the organization as Bioversity International or Bioversity throughout this paper.
There were cases in which plant height was measured by curators in two different ways—from ground level to tip of panicle and to tip of boot leaf—yielding completely different values for the same character. This highlighted the need for standardized and internationally recognized descriptor lists.
Little emphasis was placed on use, which was at the time considered a cause of genetic diversity loss through improved varieties with narrow genetic bases and high-yielding capacity.
Factor analysis is used in social science to investigate underlying structure of measurable and qualitative observations. For a bibliography of the applications of factor analysis in the social sciences, see Rummel (1970).
PCA is used to transform the data into a new orthogonal coordinate system. The greatest variance from any projection of the data is considered the first coordinate (also known as the first principal component); the second greatest variance is considered the second coordinate, and so on. PCA is generally used to dimensionally reduce datasets by retaining those characteristics that contribute most to its variance by keeping lower-order principal components and ignoring higher-order ones.
Nearly 67% of the extracted information is absolutely adequate considering the number of involved variables and the study’s purpose.
After a Varimax rotation, each original variable tends to be associated with one (or a small number) of factors, and each factor represents only a small number of variables.
Abbreviations
- ADB:
-
Asian Development Bank
- APWs:
-
Annual Project Work Plans
- CAGs:
-
Crop Advisory Groups
- CBD:
-
Convention on Biological Diversity
- CCER:
-
Centre Commissioned External Reviews
- CGIAR:
-
Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
- COMECON:
-
Council for Mutual Economic Aid
- DLs:
-
Descriptor lists
- DUS:
-
Distinctness, uniformity and stability
- EXIR:
-
Executive Information and Retrieval System
- FAO:
-
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation
- GEF:
-
Global Environment Facility
- IBPGR:
-
International Board for Plant Genetic Resources
- IPGRI:
-
International Plant Genetic Resources Institute
- ISGR:
-
Information system genetic resources
- ITPGRFA:
-
The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
- MCPD:
-
Multi-crop Passport Descriptors
- PCA:
-
Principal component analysis
- PGR:
-
Plant genetic resources
- TAXIR:
-
Taxonomic Information Retrieval System
- UMB:
-
Understanding and Managing Biodiversity
- UNDP:
-
United Nation Development Programme
- UPOV:
-
Union Internationale pour la Protection des Obtentions Végétales
References
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van Hintum ThJL, Jongen MWM, Hazekamp Th (eds) (1995) Standardization in Plant Genetic Resources Documentation: Report of the Second technical Meeting of focal points for Documentation in East European Genebanks, Centre for Genetic Resources (CGN), The Netherlands, Wageningen, The Netherlands, p 129
IBPGR Annual Report 1974
Kaiser HF (1958) The Varimax criterion for analytic rotation in factor analysis. Psychometrika 23(3):187–200
Laliberté B, Withers L, Alercia A, Hazekamp T (1999) Adoption of crop descriptors—IPGRI. In: A synthesis of findings concerning CGIAR case studies on the adoption of technological innovation. IAEG Secretariat, May 1999
Pank F (2005) Experiences with descriptors for characterization of medicinal and aromatic plants. Plant Genet Resour Charact Utiliz 3:190–198
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This article is a joint effort of all authors: Jamie Watts drafted and collected the questionnaires and data analysis was conducted by Francesco Caracciolo. Adriana Alercia and Ramanatha Rao provided background and technical information while Jamie Watts and Elisabetta Gotor assured critical and objective analysis of the overall document, written by Elisabetta Gotor.
Appendices
Annex 1: List of Bioversity descriptors published (1977–2006)
List of Multicrop Passport Descriptors (2001)
List of Descriptors for Genetic Marker Technologies (2004)
Crop descriptors: | ||
1. | Allium (E,S,F) | 2001 |
2. | Almond (revised) (E) | 1985 |
3. | Apple (E) | 1982 |
4. | Apricot (E) | 1984 |
5. | Avocado (E,S) | 1995 |
6. | Bambara groundnut (E,F) | 2000 |
7. | Banana (E,S,F) | 1996 |
8. | Barley (E) | 1994 |
9. | Beta (E) | 1991 |
10. | Black pepper (E,S) | 1995 |
11. | Brassica and Raphanus (E) | 1990 |
12. | Brassica campestris L. (E) | 1987 |
13. | Buckwheat (E) | 1994 |
14. | Cañahua (Chenopodium pallidicaule) (S) | 2005 |
15. | Capsicum (E,S) | 1995 |
16. | Cardamom (E) | 1994 |
17. | Carrot (E,S,F) | 1999 |
18. | Cashew (E) | 1986 |
19. | Cherry (E) | 1985 |
20. | Chickpea (E) | 1993 |
21. | Citrus (E,F,S) | 1999 |
22. | Coconut (E) | 1992 |
23. | Coffee (E,S,F) | 1996 |
24. | Cotton (Revised) (E) | 1985 |
25. | Cowpea (E) | 1983 |
26. | Cultivated potato (E) | 1977 |
27. | Date Palm (F) | 2005 |
28. | Echinochloa millet (E) | 1983 |
29. | Eggplant (E,F) | 1990 |
30. | Faba bean (E) | 1985 |
31. | Fig (E) | 2003 |
32. | Finger millet (E) | 1985 |
33. | Forage grass (E) | 1985 |
34. | Forage legumes (E) | 1984 |
35. | Grapevine (E,S,F) | 1997 |
36. | Groundnut (E,S,F) | 1992 |
37. | Jackfruit (E) | 2000 |
38. | Kodo millet (E) | 1983 |
39. | Lathyrus spp. (E) | 2000 |
40. | Lentil (E) | 1985 |
41. | Lima bean (E,P) | 1982 |
42. | Litchi (E) | 2002 |
43. | Lupin (E,S) | 1981 |
44. | Maize (E,S,F, P) | 1991 |
45. | Mango (E) | 2006 |
46. | Mangosteen (E) | 2003 |
47. | Medicago (Annual) (E,F) | 1991 |
48. | Melon (E) | 2003 |
49. | Mung bean (E) | 1980 |
50. | Oat (E) | 1985 |
51. | Oca (S) | 2001 |
52. | Oil palm (E) | 1989 |
53. | Panicum miliaceum and P. sumatrense (E) | 1985 |
54. | Papaya (E) | 1988 |
55. | Peach (E) | 1985 |
56. | Pear (E) | 1983 |
57. | Pearl millet (E,F) | 1993 |
58. | Pepino (E) | 2004 |
59. | Phaseolus acutifolius (E) | 1985 |
60. | Phaseolus coccineus (E) | 1983 |
61. | Phaseolus vulgaris (E,P) | 1982 |
62. | Pigeonpea (E) | 1993 |
63. | Pineapple (E) | 1991 |
64. | Pistacia (excluding Pistacia vera) (E) | 1998 |
65. | Pistachio (A,R,E,F) | 1997 |
66. | Plum (E) | 1985 |
67. | Potato variety (E) | 1985 |
68. | Quinua (E) | 1981 |
69. | Rambutan (E) | 2003 |
70. | Rice (E) | 1980 |
71. | Rocket (E,I) | 1999 |
72. | Rye and Triticale (E) | 1985 |
73. | Safflower (E) | 1983 |
74. | Sesame (E) | 2004 |
75. | Setaria italica and S. pumilia (E) | 1985 |
76. | Shea tree (E) | 2006 |
77. | Sorghum (E,F) | 1993 |
78. | Soyabean (E,C) | 1984 |
79. | Strawberry (E) | 1986 |
80. | Sunflower (E) | 1985 |
81. | Sweet potato (E,S,F) | 1991 |
82. | Taro (E,F,S) | 1999 |
83. | Tea (E,S,F) | 1997 |
84. | Tomato (E,S,F) | 1996 |
85. | Tropical fruit (E) | 1980 |
86. | Ulluco (Ullucus tuberosus) (S) | 2003 |
87. | Vigna aconitifolia and V. trilobata (E) | 1985 |
88. | Vigna mungo and V. radiata (Revised) (E) | 1985 |
89. | Walnut (E) | 1994 |
90. | Wheat (Revised) (E) | 1985 |
91. | Wheat and Aegilops (E) | 1978 |
92. | White Clover (E) | 1992 |
93. | Winged Bean (E) | 1979 |
94. | Xanthosoma (E) | 1989 |
95. | Yam (E,S,F) | 1997 |
Annex 2: List of crop descriptors showing coverage of NUS, CG and IT crops
Year | Title | Lang | NUS | IT | CG | Year | Title | Lang | NUS | IT | CG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1977 | Cultivated potato | E | X | X | 1993 | Chickpea | E | X | X | ||
1978 | Wheat and Aegilops | E | X | X | 1993 | Pearl millet | E | X | X | X | |
1979 | Winged bean | E | X | 1993 | Pearl millet | F | X | X | X | ||
1980 | Colocasia | E | 1993 | Pigeonpea | E | X | X | X | |||
1980 | Mung bean | E | 1993 | Sorghum | E | X | X | ||||
1980 | Rice | E | X | X | 1993 | Sorghum | F | X | |||
1980 | Tropical fruit | E | X | 1994 | Barley | E | X | X | |||
1980 | Yam | E | X | X | X | 1994 | Buckwheat | E | X | ||
1981 | Lupin | E | X | X | 1994 | Cardamom | E | X | |||
1981 | Lupin | S | X | X | 1994 | Walnut | E | ||||
1981 | Quinua | E | X | 1995 | Avocado | E | |||||
1981 | Sesame | E | X | 1995 | Avocado | S | |||||
1982 | Apple | E | 1995 | Black pepper | E | ||||||
1982 | Lima bean | E | X | X | 1995 | Black pepper | S | ||||
1982 | Oca | S | X | X | 1995 | Capsicum | E | ||||
1982 | Phaseolus vulgaris | E | X | 1995 | Capsicum | S | |||||
1983 | Cowpea-Vigna unguiculata | E | X | X | X | 1995 | Coconut | E | X | X | |
1983 | Echinochloa millet | E | X | 1996 | Banana | E | X | ||||
1983 | Grape | E | 1996 | Banana | F | X | |||||
1983 | Kodo millet | E | X | 1996 | Banana | S | X | ||||
1983 | P. coccineus | E | X | X | 1996 | Coffee | E | ||||
1983 | Pear | E | 1996 | Coffee | F | ||||||
1983 | Safflower | E | X | 1996 | Coffee | S | |||||
1984 | Apricot | E | 1996 | Tomate | F | ||||||
1984 | Banana | E | X | 1996 | Tomate | S | |||||
1984 | Forage legumes | E | X | X | 1996 | Tomato | E | ||||
1984 | Soyabean | C | X | 1997 | Grapevine rev. | E | |||||
1984 | Soyabean | E/ | X | 1997 | Grapevine rev. | F | |||||
1985 | Almond | E | 1997 | Grapevine rev. | S | ||||||
1985 | Cherry | E | 1997 | Pistachio | E | X | |||||
1985 | Cotton | E | 1997 | Pistachio | F | X | |||||
1985 | Faba bean | E | X | X | 1997 | Tea | E | X | |||
1985 | Finger millet | E | X | X | X | 1997 | Tea | F | X | ||
1985 | Forage grass | E | X | X | 1997 | Tea | S | X | |||
1985 | Lentil | E | X | X | 1997 | Yam | E | X | X | X | |
1985 | Oat | E | X | 1997 | Yam | F | X | X | X | ||
1985 | Panicum miliaceum, P. sumatrense | E | X | 1997 | Yam | S | X | X | X | ||
1985 | Peach | E | 1998 | Carrot | E | X | |||||
1985 | Phaseolus acutifolius | E | X | X | 1998 | Carrot | F | X | |||
1985 | Plum | E | 1998 | Carrot | S | X | |||||
1985 | Potato variety | E | X | 1998 | Pistacia excl. P. vera | E | |||||
1985 | Rye and triticale | E | X | X | 1999 | Citrus | E | X | |||
1985 | Sesame | E | X | 1999 | Citrus | F | X | ||||
1985 | Setaria italica | E | X | 1999 | Citrus | S | |||||
1985 | Sunflower | E | X | 1999 | Rocket | E | X | ||||
1985 | V. aconitifolia and V. trilobata | E | X | X | 1999 | Taro–Rev. | F | X | X | ||
1985 | Vigna mungo, V. radiata | E | X | X | 1999 | Taro–Rev. | S | X | X | ||
1985 | Wheat | E | X | X | 2000 | Bambara groundnut | E | X | X | ||
1986 | Cashew | E | X | 2000 | Bambara groundnut | F | X | X | |||
1986 | Strawberry | E | X | 2000 | Bambara groundnut | S | X | X | |||
1987 | Bambara groundnut | E | X | X | 2000 | Jackfruit | E | X | |||
1987 | Brassica campestris | E | X | X | 2000 | Lathyrus | E | X | X | ||
1988 | Citrus | E | X | 2001 | Allium | E | |||||
1988 | Papaya | E | 2001 | Allium | S | ||||||
1989 | Mango | E | 2001 | Banana | E | X | |||||
1989 | Oil palm | E | 2001 | Banana | F | X | |||||
1989 | Xanthosoma | E | X | X | 2001 | Banana | S | X | |||
1990 | Brassica and Raphanus | E | X | X | 2001 | Milho | P | X | |||
1990 | Eggplant | E | X | 2001 | Oxalis | S | X | ||||
1990 | Eggplant | F | X | X | 2001 | Phaseolus lunatus | P | X | |||
1991 | Beta | E | X | 2001 | P. vulgaris | P | X | X | |||
1991 | Maize | E | X | X | 2002 | Litchi | E | X | |||
1991 | Maize | F | X | X | 2002 | Pistacia | A | X | |||
1991 | Maize | S | X | X | 2002 | Pistacia | R | X | |||
1991 | Medicago | E | X | 2002 | Rocket | I | X | ||||
1991 | Medicago | F | X | 2003 | Fig | E | X | ||||
1991 | Pineapple | E | 2003 | Mangosteen | E | X | |||||
1991 | Sweet potato | E | X | 2003 | Melon | E | |||||
1991 | Sweet potato | F | X | 2003 | Rambutan | E | X | ||||
1991 | Sweet potato | S | X | 2003 | Ulluco | S | X | X | |||
1992 | Coconut | E | X | X | 2004 | Pepino | E | ||||
1992 | Groundnut | E | X | 2004 | Sesame | E | X | ||||
1992 | Groundnut | F | X | 2005 | Chenopodium | S | X | ||||
1992 | Groundnut | S | X | 2005 | Date Palm | F | X | ||||
1992 | White clover | E | X |
| 2006 | Shea Butter Tree | E | X | |||
1999 | Taro–Rev. | E | X | X | 2006 | Mango | E |
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Gotor, E., Alercia, A., Rao, V.R. et al. The scientific information activity of Bioversity International: the descriptor lists. Genet Resour Crop Evol 55, 757–772 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-008-9342-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-008-9342-x