BIOPRESERVATION AND BIOBANKING
Volume 16, Number 5, 2018
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
DOI: 10.1089/bio.2018.0044
Embrapa Network for Brazilian Plant Genetic
Resources Conservation
Alfredo Augusto Cunha Alves1 and Vânia Cristina Rennó Azevedo 2,*
Brazil is one of the most biodiverse countries on Earth, holding *10% of the world’s vascular plant species. Despite
that, Brazilian agriculture is highly dependent on genetic resources originating from other countries. Embrapa
(Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation) is the governmental institution that, since 1973, has been responsible
for the introduction and conservation of genetic resources in Brazil. In this article, we report on the experiences that
Embrapa has faced over the past 45 years to build and improve a national network for the preservation of plant
genetic resources under the coordination of Embrapa Genetic Resources & Biotechnology (CENARGEN), one of
the 42 Embrapa decentralized units. The first network-based model, RENARGEN, initiated in 2003, was followed
by the National Platform for Genetic Resources (Platform RG) in 2009; and from 2014 until today Embrapa manages
the conservation of genetic resources through Portfolio REGEN, in which the plant component is called Plant
Genetic Resources Network (RGV). This network covers activities of enrichment, conservation, characterization,
and documentation of genebanks. Embrapa’s plant genetic resources are conserved in active genebanks (AGs), in
long-term seed bank (Colbase), and in vitro and DNA banks. In situ and on-farm conservation are also handled at
Embrapa to complement and reinforce ex situ conservation. The latest survey reveals that Embrapa has 134 AGs with
*150,000 accessions of 1130 plant species, 123,000 accessions of 735 species within Colbase, 1250 in vitro
accessions, and 12,000 DNA samples. At least 65% of this collection is documented and available to the public in the
Embrapa Alelo system, which also handles quarantine, germplasm exchange, and herbarium data. By the end of
2018, the public Alelo data will be automatically migrated to the Genesys system. In the last 40 years, *650,000
accessions have been exchanged by Embrapa, with 70% of them imported from other countries.
Keywords: active genebank, seed collection, germplasm exchange, ex situ conservation, genebank database
Introduction
B
razil is one of the most biodiverse countries on
Earth. Its advantageous location (between 5°N and
33°S and between 35°E and 74°W) and its large continental dimension (it is the largest country in the southern
hemisphere and the fifth largest in the world in total area)
may be the geographic attributes that provide Brazil with
the following characteristics:
- Wide climate diversity, with tropical (predominant) and
subtropical regions, and derivations of these climates;
- Six vegetation biomes: Amazônia (Amazon Rainforest),
Cerrado (Central Savanna), Caatinga (Thorny Forest),
Atlantic Forest, Pampas, and Pantanal (Wetlands)1;
- Brazil has 33,161 species of vascular plants, which represents *25% of the Americas and 10% of the world
plant diversity2;
- Brazil is the main center of origin of the new species of
vascular plants identified in the last three decades3;
- 30% of Brazilian territory is arable land.
- The largest fresh water reserves on the planet (8% of the
world volume).
Several Brazilian native species are used as human food,
of which we highlight cassava (Manihot esculenta), pineapple (Ananas comosus), peanuts (Arachis hypogaea), cocoa
(Theobroma cacao), cashew (Anacardium occidentale),
cupuassu (Theobroma grandiflorum), passion fruit (Passiflora edulis), Brazil nuts (Bertholletia excelsa), guaraná
1
Embrapa Cassava & Fruits (CNPMF), Cruz das Almas, Brazil.
Embrapa Genetic Resources & Biotechnology (CENARGEN), Brası́lia-DF, Brazil.
*Present address: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru, India.
2
ª Alves and Azevedo, 2018; Published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. This Open Access article is distributed under the terms of the Creative
Commons License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any
medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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BRAZILIAN PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES CONSERVATION
(Paullinia cupana), jaboticaba (Plinia cauliflora), and
some palms such as assai (Euterpe oleracea), which is
today widely consumed all over the country and exported.4
In addition, native forage species are predominantly used
in the raising of livestock. On the contrary, Brazilian agriculture is highly dependent on genetic resources originating from other countries. The systematic introduction of
exotic genetic resources, the ecological diversity, and the
development of technologies and new varieties adapted to
the different Brazilian biomes resulted in an intense and
ample adaptation and expansion of several crops that are
today considered, globally, as basic commodities. Today,
Brazil stands out as the third largest producer of grains and
the third largest exporter of agricultural products in the
world, ranking first in the export of coffee, soybean, sugar,
orange juice, alcohol, tobacco, beef, and chicken meat.5
The Brazilian Agricultural Research System (SNPA),
coordinated by Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural Research
Corporation), is made up of public, federal, and state institutions; universities; private companies and foundations that
conduct research in different scientific areas and different
geographic regions. Embrapa is linked to the Ministry of
Agriculture and Food Supply, and has 42 decentralized units
(DUs) distributed throughout the country. Since its founding
in 1973, Embrapa was designated to promote and facilitate
the safe introduction of genetic resources. Embrapa Genetic
Resources & Biotechnology (CENARGEN) was created in
1974 to coordinate the activities of collection, conservation,
quarantine, exchange, characterization, evaluation, and
documentation of genetic resources in a collaborative way
with SNPA partner institutions.4 Since then, collections of
germplasm have been structured in different DUs, predominantly for plants.
Brazil has achieved important results in agricultural research, with significant progress in the conservation and use
of plant genetic resources, especially those related to food
production. In this article, we report on the experiences
that Embrapa has faced in the construction of a national
network for the conservation and use of Brazilian plant
genetic resources.
Maintenance and Conservation of Brazilian
Plant Genetic Resources
Background
The preservation of genetic resources is essential for
maintaining the natural genetic variability for use in
breeding programs, especially those for food. In Brazil, this
need is especially important as the predominant country’s
food-based crops are of foreign origin. We can mention, for
example, that 90% of all species conserved in Embrapa’s
plant collections are of exotic species.6
Starting in 2003, Embrapa has operated the first networkbased model of management and conservation of genetic
resources in a network called National Genetic Resources
Network (RENARGEN). Considering the relevance of genetic resources as strategic assets for agricultural development, this model was improved and, in 2009, RENARGEN
was replaced by the National Platform for Genetic Resources formed by four big project networks: (1) plant
network, (2) animal network, (3) microbial network, and (4)
network integration (transverse network).7 The first three
351
network projects focused on the conservation of genetic
resources, while the fourth project network was composed
of three crosscutting project components: curatorship, documentation, and germplasm exchange, which had a strong
interaction with the other component projects of the three
networks.7
From 2012 to 2015, Embrapa established new corporate
management instruments called ‘‘Portfolios’’ to organize
projects related to strategic themes of national relevance
defined directly by the Board of Embrapa.8 Of the 20 corporate portfolios approved during this period, the Strategic
Management of Genetic Resources for Food, Agriculture
and Bio-Industry (REGEN portfolio) was established in
2014.8 In this new model, the plant component, now called
Plant Genetic Resources Network (RGV), is implementing a
new phase following a restructuring of component projects.
The activities of collecting wild relatives and native species
of importance for agriculture and food are being reinforced,
as well as in situ/on-farm conservation actions in support of
ex situ conservation.9 The organization and documentation
of information in the collections is a priority, and the main
innovation in the RGV is the implementation of Quality
Systems based on international standards, which is being
established from the selection of minimum requirements.9
RGV is led by the Plant Genetic Resources Curatorship
system, which coordinates germplasm banks and plant collections at a strategic level, allowing the planning of midterm (5 years) conservation actions. RGV consists of 20
component projects, of which 11 are dedicated to the conservation activities of genebanks and the other nine are of
transversal actions (Fig. 1). RGV is linked to several other
Embrapa’s portfolios and project arrangements, considering
that conserved genetic resources form the basis for several
research projects.9
Embrapa’s RGV is fed by projects with specific activities
for enrichment, conservation, characterization, and documentation of the collections, with the purpose of making
them available for research, improvement, and food safety.
Currently, Embrapa’s plant genetic resources are conserved in (1) active genebanks (AGs), (2) long-term seed
bank (Colbase), (3) in vitro bank, and (4) DNA bank.10
Colbase works as a safety duplicate of the accessions
maintained in AGs, to conserve seeds at -20°C for a long
period.11 Embrapa also develops research and innovation
to subsidize and promote in situ and on-farm conservation,
both in natural environments and in agroecosystems.12
Ex situ conservation
Ex situ conservation of plant genetic resources refers to
the maintenance of germplasm outside their place of origin
in the short, medium, or long term. It comprises activities of
enrichment through collection and exchange, documentation
and proper conservation. Ex situ plant conservation at Embrapa works on germplasm acquisition through collection
expeditions, exchange with institutions in Brazil and abroad,
documentation, and development/improvement of methods
related to ex situ conservation. The main aim is to do research on the establishment and improvement of methodologies used for ex situ collection and conservation of plant
genetic resources, to ensure the physical, physiological, and
genetic integrity of the collections, and also to provide the
information associated with them.13
352
ALVES AND AZEVEDO
FIG. 1. Scheme of the
structure and management of
the Embrapa Plant Genetic
Resources Network.
The AGs of Embrapa’s RGV are organized in groups of
(1) Cereals and Pseudocereals; (2) Oilseeds, Fibrous, and
Leguminous; (3) Vegetables and Condiments; (4) Forages;
(5) Fruits; (6) Medicinal, Aromatic, Dyes, and Insecticides;
(7) Ornamental; (8) Forestry and Palm Trees; (9) Industrial; and (10) Roots and Tubers.10 The most recent
published global survey carried out by Embrapa reports
*150,000 accessions of 470 genera and 1130 species
(native and exotic) conserved in 134 AGs; 123,000 ac-
cessions of 620 genera and 735 species in the Colbase;
1250 accessions of 24 genera and 63 species in the in vitro
bank; and 12,000 accessions of 16 genera and 21 species
in the DNA bank10 (Table 1), involving *300 researchers
from the different Embrapa units and *100 partner institutions. These germplasm collections are strategically distributed in different Brazilian regions and biomes (Fig. 2), in 29
Embrapa’s centers, including Embrapa Genetic Resources
and Biotechnology, where Colbase is being preserved in the
Table 1. Numbers of Active Genebanks, Genera, Species, and Accessions Conserved
in the Embrapa’s Plant Genetic Resources Network
No. of
Genebank group
Cereals and Pseudocereals
Oilseeds, Fibrous, and Leguminous
Vegetables and Condiments
Forages
Fruits
Medicinal, Aromatic, Dyes, and Insecticides
Ornamental
Forestry and Palm Trees
Industrial
Roots and Tubers
All active genebanks
Long-term seed bank (Colbase)
In Vitro Bank
DNA Bank
No. of banks
Genebanks Genera Species Accessions Institutions under FAO treaty*
12
21
18
14
46
15
5
12
8
10
161
1
1
1
16
21
42
108
74
86
90
24
8
3
472
623
24
16
88
169
72
195
236
103
153
56
19
38
1129
735
63
21
59,408
48,323
10,878
9284
8693
4108
512
3359
2631
5232
15,2428
12,3261
1258
12,000
5
9
3
11
14
7
4
6
5
7
29
1
1
1
10
10
1
2
5
0
0
0
0
9
37
*
*
*
Data from Azevedo and Bustamante.10
*Species listed in Annex 1 of the FAO treaty, which are covered by the Multilateral System. Since Brazil is a signatory to the treaty, the
accessions of these species must be available via Standard Material Transfer Agreement (SMTA).
BRAZILIAN PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES CONSERVATION
353
FIG. 2. Distribution of
AGs by Brazilian States and
Biomes. The values within
circles are the numbers of
AGs located in 29 of Embrapa’s decentralized units.
The star in the center of the
map represents Embrapa
Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (CENARGEN)
where the Seed Base Collection (Colbase) and in vitro
and DNA banks are preserved at BGen. AGs, active
genebanks; BGen, Genetic
Bank of Embrapa. Data from
Azevedo and Bustamante.10
new facility of the Genetic Bank of Embrapa (BGen), in
Brası́lia-DF. It is estimated that at least 240 genebanks are
maintained in the other SNPA institutions,14 such as Agência
Goiana de Assistência Técnica, Extensão Rural, e Pesquisa
Agropecuária (EMATER); Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária de Minas Gerais (EPAMIG); Empresa de Pesquisa
Agropecuária do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (PESAGRO);
Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária e Extensão Rural de
Santa Catarina (EPAGRI); Empresa Mato-grossense de
Pesquisa, Assistência e Extensão Rural (EMPAER); Fundação Estadual de Pesquisa Agropecuária (FEPAGRO);
Instituto Agronômico de Campinas (IAC); Instituto Agronômico de Pernambuco (IPA); Instituto Agronômico do
Paraná (IAPAR); Instituto Nacional de Pesquisa da Amazônia
(INPA); Universidade de Campinas (UNICAMP); and Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ).
The DUs that house the largest number of AGs are, in
general, ecoregional centers that operate in regions that
embrace large biomes such as Embrapa Eastern Amazon
(with 18 AGs) in the State of Pará (North Region), Embrapa
Temperate Agriculture (15) in the State of Rio Grande
do Sul (Southern Region), and Embrapa Cerrados (14) in
the State of Goiás (Central-West Region). On the contrary,
some Commodities Centers, which work with a large number
of crops, are also responsible for maintaining many AGs,
such as Embrapa Vegetables (17 AGs) in Brası́lia-DF
(Central-West Region) and Embrapa Cassava & Fruits
(11) in Bahia (Northeast Region) (Fig. 2).
The biggest collections are rice (27,050 accessions), soybean (18,024), beans (16,447), wheat (15,118), and sorghum
(7215). Some other collections are very small, such as some
native fruits, coconut (36 accessions), and strawberry (20
accessions). It is important to highlight that those collections are maintained in the field or in greenhouses, and the
focus is to conserve the genetic diversity of each accession.
So, in some cases, there are >150 plants of each accession
in the field, as in the case of coconut.
Embrapa’s Genetic Bank
BGen, located at CENARGEN, in Brası́lia-DF, and inaugurated in April 2014, is a two-level building with a total
area of >2000 m2, with modern and safe facilities to preserve, in the medium- and long-term, basic germplasm
collections of plant and animal and backup of microorganism collections from Embrapa and partner institutions15
(Fig. 3). Plant germplasm is conserved in the form of seeds
in cold chambers at -20°C, or in the form of vegetative
structures by tissue culture or cryopreservation. BGen has
laboratories, chambers for seed and in vitro plants conservation, cryopreservation tanks, and ultra-low temperature
freezers for DNA banks. The facility for seed conservation is
the largest in Latin America with the capacity to store
750,000 seed samples.15
The long-term seed storage capacity of the genebank
ensures that all Embrapa’s AGs can be duplicated in this
structure. In vitro conservation and cryopreservation are
performed on demand and for species for which protocols
have already been developed. Researches to develop new
protocols are always in progress. Also, species for which
354
ALVES AND AZEVEDO
FIG. 3. Infrastructure of
Embrapa’s Genetic Bank,
inaugurated in 2014 at
CENARGEN, Brası́lia-DF. (A)
building; (B) seed cold chamber; (C) in vitro conservation
room; and (D) cryopreservation facilities. Photographs A
and B: Melo15,17; Photographs
C and D: Brazil Agency EBC.18
seed conservation is not feasible are prioritized. DNA conservation is also done on demand. This demand may come
from ongoing research projects at Embrapa that study population genetics of genetic resource species as well as, and
especially, from Colbase seed storage. All material entering
the Colbase seed storage has the germination test performed.
At least 10 plants of each accession are sent for DNA
conservation.
One of the objectives of BGen is to house collections of
plants, animals, and microorganisms maintained by partner
institutions in Brazil and in other countries, such as the
backup of the in vitro potato collection of International
Potato Center (CIP).16 From 2014 to 2016, the complete
CIP’s collection with 4391 accessions was safety duplicated
from Peru to BGen, Brası́lia (back box security copy).16 It is
the world’s most valuable potato collection in terms of genetic diversity, containing both wild and cultivated varieties.
In situ and on-farm conservation
In situ and on-farm conservation is essential in conserving
genetic resources and complements ex situ conservation.
It covers the conservation, management, and restoration of
species populations and their associated ecosystems, ensuring the evolution of species over time, in response to
changing environmental conditions and the maintenance of
agrobiodiversity. Embrapa develops research and innovation
to promote conservation, both in natural environments
and in agroecosystems, conducting biological inventories
and geographic analysis for conservation planning; evaluation and development of management techniques for the
sustainable use of biodiversity; ecological restoration in
degraded landscapes; analysis and promotion of conservation of genetic resources by local communities and farmers.19 These studies subsidize actions and public policies for
conservation, aiming not only the maintenance of species
and their habitats but also of the human communities and
their ways of life.12,19
In the case of in situ conservation, important advances
were made to create and establish conservation units (CUs)
to protect natural areas that are threatened to disappear, such
as large areas of forest in the Amazon biome. Furthermore,
other important government initiatives, such as research
conducted to indicate priority areas for in situ management and the prospecting of native species with potential
for sustainable use, have arisen from the ratification by
Brazil of the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1994.4
To achieve these objectives, the National System of Nature Conservation Units (SNUC) was established in 2000,
coordinated by the Ministry of the Environment (MMA),
which has promoted the creation and management of CUs at
the municipal, state, and federal levels, allowing an overview of the natural areas to be preserved.20 In addition,
SNUC has been establishing mechanisms that regulate the
participation of the society in the management of CUs, enhancing the relationship between the State, citizens, and the
environment.
The SNUC is the set of CUs that differ in two broad
groups according to the form of protection and permitted
uses: (1) those that need greater care due to their fragility
and particularities (CU of Full Protection), and (2) those that
can be used sustainably (CU of Sustainable Use).21 Internationally, protected areas (PAs) are designated as lands for
both CUs and traditional populations, such as indigenous
lands (ILs).22 From the union of these two categories in
Brazil, there are a total of 2471 units (1871 CUs + 600 ILs)
covering an area equivalent to 30.2% of the Brazilian territory22 (Fig. 4). The relative distribution of PAs in the 26
Brazilian States shows that the percentage of PAs varies
greatly from 71 at Amapá’s State (North) to 0.9 at Paraı́ba
(Northeast). Table 2 shows that Amazonia is the biome with
the highest occupation of PAs (51%), whereas Pampas is
the one with the lowest occupation (3%).22 According to the
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the
nine countries with an area of >2.5 million km2 devote, on
average, 10% of their territories to PAs; and Brazil is the
BRAZILIAN PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES CONSERVATION
355
FIG. 4. Distribution of
legally protected areas in Brazil, including conservation
units and indigenous lands.
Source: Miranda.22
world champion in environmental protection (Fig. 5). In addition, PAs in Brazil cover areas with great economic potential, which is not the case in most other countries, where
they cover bad and desert areas.22
To complement in situ conservation, the RGV has two
component projects, one to promote the interface between
in situ and ex situ conservation strategies, and the other to
support collection expeditions to get cultivated species, wild
species, and neglected species, in areas prone to any kind of
Table 2. Absolute and Relative Distribution
of Protected Areas in the Six Main Brazilian Biomes
Biome
Amazônia
(Rain Forest)
Cerrado (Savanna)
Atlantic Forest
Caatinga
(Thorny Forest)
Pantanal (Wetland)
Pampas
Brazil
Area (ha)
Protected
% of
areas (ha) protected
(CUs + ILs)
areas
418,245,755 212,115,240
50.7
203,938,059
110,613,570
82,652,523
24,961,235
10,020,980
6,499,874
12.2
9.1
7.9
15,131,294
762,120
17,776,394
506,755
848,357,596 254,866,204
5.0
2.9
30.0
Values calculated without overlapping. Data from Miranda.22
CUs, conservation units; ILs, indigenous lands.
risk or in areas considered GAPs in the genebanks, whose
diversity is not yet represented in ex situ collections.9
Germplasm exchange
The basic purpose of the plant germplasm exchange
system is to promote the import, export, and internal transit
of plant propagation material for agricultural research in a
safe manner. The introduction of germplasm in Brazil is a
dynamic process that aims to obtain more productive varieties resistant to pests and adapted to the soil and climatic
conditions of the country. CENARGEN coordinates the
exchange of plant germplasm in harmony and cooperation
with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply
(MAPA).23
CENARGEN has been exchanging and quarantining imported germplasm since 1976.24 By December 2014, a total
of 660,139 accessions were exchanged, of which 482,713
were imports, 67,871 exports, and 97,558 domestic exchanges25–27 (Table 3). Therefore, *17,000 accessions per
year were exchanged in this period, the great majority of
which refers to imports. The most exchanged crops during
this period were corn, wheat, rice, vegetables, soybeans, and
beans. International institutions that have sent more germplasm to Brazil include the International Maize and Wheat
Improvement Center (CIMMYT, Mexico), the International
Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT, Colombia); the
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the CIP
356
ALVES AND AZEVEDO
FIG. 5. - Percentage of
protected areas in countries
with >2.5 million km.2 Data
from Miranda.22
(Peru), the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI,
Philippines), and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO, Australia). The
countries that received the most germplasm from Brazil in
descending order were United States, Haiti, Peru, France,
and Colombia. In Brazil, the institutions that received the
greatest quantities of germplasm from abroad were Embrapa
(several centers), the Agronomic Institute of Paraná (IAPAR),
the Agricultural Research and Rural Extension Company of
Santa Catarina (EPAGRI), the Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), and the School of Agriculture ‘‘Luis de
Queiroz’’ (ESALQ).4,24–27
Brazil is a megadiverse country and, although it is one
of the most biodiverse countries in the world, Brazilian
agriculture is very dependent on exotic plant genetic resources. Therefore, the exchange and more properly the
importation of germplasm have shown to be quite efficient
in the enrichment of the genebanks and in the supply of
raw material to the plant breeding programs. In this context, almost a half million accessions have been imported
Table 3. Number of Accessions Exchanged
by Embrapa/CENARGEN from 1976 to 2014
Period
Import
Export
Internal transit
Total
1976–1979
1980–1984
1985–1989
1990–1994
1995–1999
2000–2004
2005–2009
2010–2014
Total
11,338
52,360
53,598
61,844
84,078
90,831
94,830
33,834
482,713
4706
8786
15,558
12,912
7949
2021
9271
6668
67,871
8720
16,297
16,967
9159
10,448
10,079
9994
15,894
97,558
24,764
77,443
86,123
83,915
102,475
102,931
127,001
55,487
660,139
Sources: Marques and Marinho,25 Ferreira and Silva,26 and
Visualization of component project.27
from other countries, supplying both the various centers of
Embrapa and other scientific institutions and universities
in Brazil.26
Although several species native to Brazil are used as
human food, most of them are fruits, nuts, or tubers and
roots. Brazil is mainly dependent on exotic germplasm for
food. Nevertheless, native materials such as groundnut,
cashew, cassava, and pineapple are of interest to other
countries. However, the export of Brazil germplasm is very
low. This can be explained by very restrictive Brazilian
laws. The law number 13,123/2015, currently in force,28
defines genetic resources as the genetic information of
plants, animals, and microbial species, or any other species,
including substances originating from the metabolism of
these living organisms. This strict regulation also does not
allow the definitive transfer of native genetic resources to
other countries or international centers. This makes clear the
difficulties faced when negotiating the material exchange
agreements. It is also important to highlight that exotic
material can easily be exchanged if not considered adapted
(when a species forms spontaneous populations and acquired distinctive characteristics in this population) or when
considered a landrace. Furthermore, all research with native
species must be registered in the National System for Genetic Heritage (SisGen)29 before any publication or before
the development of any commercial product arising from the
use of native genetic material. Decree number 8,772/2016,
in what concerns this registration, requires that the origin of
the genetic heritage found under in situ conditions be informed, even if obtained from ex situ or in silico sources.
Therefore, the Law and Decree that regulate access and
benefit sharing in Brazil have already recognized access to
dematerialized genetic resources in its framework, although
this discussion is still ongoing in international level. Thus,
the regulation of Law 13,123 provides that to submit a
sequence to any database, a Standard Material Transfer
Agreement (SMTA) with the database must be signed. Also,
BRAZILIAN PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES CONSERVATION
research utilizing genetic information obtained in silico
must register the use of this information at SisGen if the
research results are in any publication or product.30
Embrapa’s Databases on Plant
Genetic Resources
357
tool that would allow the curators, in any of the DUs, to feed
the system with the data related to the bank under their
responsibility. CENARGEN, in this new scenario, remains
responsible for coordinating the entire conservation system
of Embrapa for quarantine, germplasm exchange, and for
the long-term collection (Colbase).
Background
In the late 1980s, Embrapa/CENARGEN started the development of the Genetic Resources Information System
(SIRG), which had a centralized database format with decentralized maintenance and access.31 Due to limitations to
expand computer equipment, the system was restricted to
CENARGEN, preventing its full implementation. In 1996,
SIRG underwent a reengineering work, incorporating
modern information technologies, used at the time, by USDA’s Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN),
resulting in the development of the Brazilian Genetic Resources Information System (SIBRARGEN), designed to
establish and maintain a centralized database on genetic
resources of plant, animals, and microorganisms, and
making it available through the Internet for searching the
following databases: Taxonomy, Passport, Exchange, Quarantine, ex situ Conservation, Collection, Characterization,
Evaluation and Use of Germplasm, Curatorship and Germplasm Banks.31 The SIBRAGEN homepage was designed
with web tools (HTML and JSP) using Embrapa’s network
infrastructure. In its first phase, the system was implemented
within Embrapa. However, other Brazilian institutions, within
the SNPA, also have used it.7,31
About 8 years using SIBRARGEN, Embrapa decided that
it should be technically evaluated to adapt to future needs,
both to increase user satisfaction and to improve system
performance by incorporating up-to-date Web technologies.
At that time, Brazil had been selected by Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) of the United Nations to join the group
of countries that would test the integration of national genetic resources information systems through a multilateral
system under development by FAO.7 This was done to meet
the demand for germplasm exchange based on the MultiCrop Passport Data (MCPD-FAO) in the framework of the
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and
Agriculture (FAO Treaty). In this pilot test, SIBRARGEN
made adjustments to comply MCPD standards and made
available passport data of the cassava genebanks. Another
important aspect considered in the framework of the system
update was the integration of SIBRAGEN Plant Module into
Global GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network),
developed by the USDA in cooperation with Biodiversity
International and the Global Crop Diversity Trust.7
For at least three decades, Embrapa used the SIBRARGEN as the main database for all genetic resource activities,
such as germplasm exchange, quarantine, and long-term
conservation, carried out by Embrapa/CENARGEN. Over
the years, CENARGEN has ceased to be the main responsible for the collection, conservation, regeneration, and
germplasm distribution activities, which are being increasingly carried out by the curators of AGs in the Embrapa’s
DUs. By now, 29 DUs are involved in Plant Genetic Resources Conservation, from collection up to characterization. With this decentralization, it became necessary to
develop a more modern, user-friendly, and accessible online
Alelo: Embrapa’s genetic resources portal
In view of the need for a new, more modern, and accessible documentation system, Embrapa, in 2011, began to
develop the Alelo System. This data platform encompasses
all the information related to the conservation of plant, animal,
and microbial genetic resources at Embrapa.32 The system is
designed to document, record, and make data publicly available. Everything about passport data, routine activities and
characterization and evaluation can be documented in this
system.33 It was developed in free software and is available on
the Internet (http://alelo.cenargen.embrapa.br). It allows quick
and easy access to the general public. It also includes information on quarantine, germplasm exchange, DNA, long-term
conservation, in vitro conservation, and the herbarium.34 Alelo
is populated by the curators and their teams in a decentralized
manner, allowing the updating of the Embrapa genetic
resources database.
All the information about Embrapa’s AGs is being migrated to Alelo platform. It is expected that all the passport
data will be available for consultation by the end of 2018
and all information regarding characterization will be
available by the end of 2019. Table 4 shows the number of
genebanks and accessions that, to date, have already been
migrated to the Alelo database. Comparing the data reported
in this table with Table 1 (complete inventory), we can see
that 70% of the AGs are already registered in the Alelo, but
only 55% of the accessions were transferred. On the contrary, the upgrade and migration of Colbase are more advanced with 75% of the accessions transferred to the Alelo.
In recent years, CENARGEN, along with Ministry of
Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (MAPA), started to
share the use of the Alelo platform with other Brazilian
research institutes and universities. This can be considered
the first step toward organizing and making available all
the information regarding the public collections in Brazil.
CENARGEN has already signed a membership and responsibility agreement with Rio de Janeiro State Agricultural Research Corporation (Pesagro), Rural Federal
University of Rio de Janeiro (UFFRJ), State University of
North Fluminense (UENF), State Agricultural Research
Foundation (FEPAGRO-RS), and National Institute of
Research of the Amazon (INPA). With the agreement, the
parties are committed to exchanging confidential and
nonconfidential information uploaded, downloaded, and
shared through the Alelo portal.34
These partnerships are not restricted to national institutions. Teams of curators from Uruguay’s National Agricultural Research Institute (INIA) and the Paraguayan
Institute of Agrarian Technology (IPTA) have also signed
the same agreement, which allows them to perform a range
of activities and duties. To work with Embrapa’s teams, the
curators in partner organizations participate in training on
Alelo’s reference modules: passport, observation, conservation, and studies for system data validation.34
358
ALVES AND AZEVEDO
Table 4. Active Genebanks and Long-Term Seed Bank (Colbase) Registered in the Embrapa’s
AleloVegetal Database and Publicly Shared at Alelo’s Portal on April 2018
No. of
Institution
Genebanks Accessions
Carlos Gayer Research Center
Embrapa Tropical Agroindustry
Embrapa Cotton
Embrapa Amapá
Embrapa Western Amazon
Embrapa Eastern Amazon
1
3
6
3
6
13
25
930
1869
183
1720
1183
Embrapa Rice & Beans
Embrapa Cerrados
Embrapa Temperate Agriculture
2
3
13
32,790
285
2696
Embrapa Forest
Embrapa Beef Cattle
Embrapa Vegetables
1
2
12
578
630
8721
Embrapa Cassava & Fruits
Embrapa Mid-North
Embrapa Maize & Sorghum
Embrapa Pantanal
Embrapa Southeast Livestock
Embrapa Southern Livestock
Embrapa Genetic Resources
and Biotechnology
Embrapa Roraima
Embrapa Semiarid
7
4
3
1
1
2
3
3659
472
4513
55
392
542
828
1
7
66
692
Embrapa Soybean
Embrapa Coastal Tablelands
Embrapa Wheat
Amazon Research
National Institute
State University of
‘‘Norte Fluminense’’
All active genebanks
Long-term seed bank (Colbase)
2
4
6
4
265
581
17,403
769
1
408
111
1
82,255
92,895
Genebank names
Kiwi
Amaryllidaceae; Cactaceas; Cashew
Carthamus; Castor bean; Cnidosculus; Peanuts; Sesame; Sisal
Buriti; Cupuassu; Inajá
Cassava; Croton; Cupuassu; Guaraná; Native Fruits; Oil Palm
Bacuri; Brazil Nuts; Camu-Camu; Cassava; Cupuassu; Curauá;
Heliconia; Hevea; Ipeca; Jaborandi; Piperacea; Taperebá;
Urucum
Beans; Rice
Cassava; Macaúba; Passiflora
Azevem; Capsicum; Carrot; Cucurbitaceae; Espinheira-Santa;
Leguminous Forages; Native Fruits; Onion; Ornamentals;
Potato and Wilds; Prunoids; Strawberry; Sweetpotato
Forest species
Panicum; Stylosanthes
Sweet potato; Capsicum; Cucurbitaceae; Eggplant; Garlic;
Lettuce; Melon; Onion; Pepino; Tomate; Vegetables; Wild
Solanum
Acerola; Banana; Bromelias; Cassava; Manihot; Papaya; Pineapple
Babassu; Cajuı́; Cowpea; Mango
Maize; Millet; Sorghum
Native Forages
Paspalum
Leguminous Forages; South Forages
Arachis; Cultivars; Fava
Orchids
Amburana; Cenchrus; Grape; Macroptilium; Manihot; Onion;
Spondias
Pupunha; Sunflower
Coconut; Desmanthus; Jenipapo; Sugarcane
Barley; Canola; Oat; Rey; Triticale; Wheat
Camu-Camu; Cupuassu; Pupunha; Vegetables
Capsicum
222 Seed banks (grouped by species or genus)
Source: http://alelo.cenargen.embrapa.br/
Compatibility of Alelo with global databases
A cooperation agreement signed between Embrapa and
the Global Crop Diversity Trust will enable the automatic
migration of public data on plant genetic resources generated by Embrapa to the information system Genesys (https://
www.genesys-pgr.org), a global information portal on genetic resources, which currently houses genebanks data from
*200 countries, covering *11 million records, including
passport, collection, characterization, and evaluation. Since
Genesys data can be migrated to GRIN Global, the Alelo is
compatible with GRIN Global. The main objective is to
comply with the requirements of the International Treaty
on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
(ITPGRFA), ratified by Brazil in 2006.33
Embrapa’s IT team has developed a tool that allows the
automatic migration of information from the Alelo to the
global portal. The data to be shared are those updated and
validated by the curators of the Actice Genebanks and/or
work collections and already made available to the public.
In addition to facilitating compliance with ITPGRFA, automatic migration will facilitate the work of the teams involved, which often have to report the same data to different
institutions, generating rework. The first stage of this automatic migration will take place in April 2018, and will be
held for Genesys and WIEWS-FAO databases (Personal
communication, Gilberto Hiragi, 2018).
Herbarium of Embrapa
Embrapa’s Herbarium, located at CENARGEN, was
established in 1976, and is registered in the Index Herbariorum (http://sweetgum.nybg.org/science/ih/) with the
code CEN. In March 2005, it was accredited as a Faithful
Custodian by the Genetic Patrimony Management
Council of the Brazilian Ministry of Environment (CGEN/
MMA). Since 1985, it has been made available online.
(http://plantwall.cenargen.embrapa.br/elcen2web/elc2html/
BRAZILIAN PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES CONSERVATION
elc2banco01.asp), and in 2014 its collection is available in
the Virtual Herbarium of Flora and Fungi-INCT (http://inct
.florabrasil.net/).
CEN Herbarium and its Plant Systematics Laboratory aim
to study and record species of Brazilian flora and local flora,
carry out expeditions to collect germplasm and support ex situ
and in situ conservation actions. Currently, it has *108,000
exsiccates and is one of the most representative in Brazil for
the Cerrado biome. It also houses growing collections of
native plants and wild relatives of Caatinga and Amazon, as
well as species of economic interest, including forage grasses
and legumes, cassava, peanuts, pineapples, yams, oleaginous,
ornamental, medicinal, forest and wild relatives of cultivated
plants. Since 2017, data and images from this herbarium are
available in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility
(GBIF) (https://www.gbif.org), which is the largest online
database on global biodiversity.35
8.
9.
10.
11.
Final Considerations
Over the last 40 years, Embrapa has developed a large and
complex system for the conservation of plant genetic resources. As a National Agricultural Research Institution,
it took over the responsibility of conserving >140 different
crops and wild relatives, allowing Embrapa to access a very
rich source of resources that culminated in the development
of hundreds of projects and consequently hundreds of cultivars, patents, and processes. They all had and still have
conserved genetic resources as the basis of the research.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Author Disclosure Statement
No conflicting financial interests exist.
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Address correspondence to:
Alfredo Augusto Cunha Alves, PhD
Embrapa Cassava & Fruits (CNPMF)
Cruz das Almas 44380-000
Brazil
E-mail: alfredo.alves@embrapa.br