The current status of Plant GeneticThe current status of Plant Genetic Resources in Egypt

Dr. Abeer ElhalwagiNational Genebank and Genetic 

Resources (NGB), Egypt

Email: abeerelhalwagi@gmail.com

IntroductionIntroduction 

•• Location of EgyptLocation of EgyptLocation of EgyptLocation of Egypt Northeastern Corner of AfricaNortheastern Corner of Africa

Western Extension of Asia (The Sinai Peninsula)Western Extension of Asia (The Sinai Peninsula)

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( )( )

Borders Libya to the WestBorders Libya to the West , Sudan to the , Sudan to the South                          South                          

Introduction 

1. Egypt’s total area is about 1,002,000 sq. km., of which, only 4 % of the total area is populated;

2. Many regions are rich in wild plants and landraces, where 2094 plant species are identified of which 61 are endemic and 4 are endangered;g ;

3. Currently, the Egyptian agriculture is facing many challenges: Limited cultivated area and water supply; Desertification deforestation erosion climate changes and overuse of Desertification, deforestation, erosion, climate changes and overuse of 

pesticides and other agrochemicals; New uniform crop varieties have replaced many of local varieties and 

landraces leading to great losses of useful genes resistant to many biotic 

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g g g yand abiotic stresses.

Management of PGR in Egypt

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I Sit C ti f PGRIn‐Situ Conservation of PGR

1. Conservation in natural protectorates managed by the Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs accordingMinistry of State for Environmental Affairs according to the law No. 102 of 1983;

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2 In 2012 the number of2. In 2012, the number of natural protectorates reached 30, of which 14 protectorates includeprotectorates include PGR.

3 Th t t l f ll3. The total area of all natural protectorates represent about 15% of 

’ lEgypt’s total area. 

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Ex‐Situ Conservation of PGR

1.  National Gene Bank (NGB).

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NGB Objectives Plan and conduct exploration missions to survey the genetic resources in

their native habitat;

Collection, Conservation, Identification, Characterization and Evaluation of Collection, Conservation, Identification, Characterization and Evaluation of

National Collections of Plant, Animal and Agricultural Microorganism

Genetic Resources;

Strengthen the international cooperation in the field of GR;

Facilitate the exchange of GR and related information under a Material 

Transfer Agreement in compliance with the IT‐PGRFA;g p ;

Document all the information generated for each accession on the NGBGR 

database;

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Enhance public awareness on the importance of maintaining genetic 

resources and promoting in situ and on‐farm conservation.

NGB Departmentsp

• Field Crops;

• Horticultural Crops;

• Animal Genetic Resources;

• Agricultural‐related micro‐organisms.

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NGB sections• Genetic resources conservation section;

• Seed viability testing and regeneration section;y g g ;

• Genetic resources evaluation section; 

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Genebank Data information System in EgyptGenebank Data information System in Egypt 

• Documentation and information section;

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NGB labs

WheatWheat

A7A3A2 A6A4 A5A1

Cytogenetics lab

B3 B6B2 B5B4 B7B1

sat sat 2

Cytogenetics lab11

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A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 A6 A7 B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7

ChemicalChemical Analysis Lab

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Tissue culture lab

Isolation of the shoot meristemmeristem

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Different encapsulated meristems

Cryopreservation device

Cryovial

15Liquid nitrogen tank

Molecular genetics lab

ISSR SSR AFLP

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Microbiology Lab

NGB f ilitiNGB facilities

FarmFarmGreen Houses

18Botanical Garden

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pomegranate local variety frompomegranate local variety from South Sinai

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Current ProjectsProject Title Source of Fund DurationProject Title Source of Fund DurationOn‐farm conservation and in vitro preservation of Citrus local varieties and sustainable utilization in Egypt.  

International Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (IT‐PGRFA)

2009 ‐ 2011

National faba bean Rhizobium Germplasm collection, genotyping and its potential use as inoculants.

Science and TechnologyDevelopment fund (STDF)

2010 – 2012

Characterization, preservation and studying the phytochemistry and antibacterial activity of pomegranate germplasm.

Science and TechnologyDevelopment fund (STDF)

2010 – 2012

Sustainable utilization of agriculture biodiversity to develop the local communities in the western desert.

Agricultural Research and Development Fund (ARDF)

2010 – 2013

Conservation and Utilization of Egyptian Wild Flora to li i l

Science and Technology l f d ( )

2012 ‐ 2015

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Improve Salinity Tolerance in Cereals

Development fund (STDF)

Sustainable utilization of Agriculture biodiversity to develop the local communities in the western desert

Native animal genetic resources

MaterialsMaterials

Alfalfa(Medicago sativa)byproducts

(date palm, olive and others)

Area: 43.6% of Egypt 64% of western desert

Sand dunes: 20‐100m/yearSand dunes: 20‐100m/yearRainfall: 0% Water: 1265 million m2/ yearPopulation: 180,000

SiwaEl FarafraEl DakhlaEl Kharga

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Academic Research Title Researcher  Degree g

Improvement of Some Traits of Rhizobia Specific to Peanut (Arachis hypogaea).

Fayrouz Hassan Abd El‐Mageed

M.Sc.2011

O id ti li di i ti f th l t M h d S M M SOxidative coupling dimerization of methyl p‐coumarate, methyl caffeate and methyl ferulate by using crude peroxidase from onion solid waste as a tool for organic synthesis.

Mohamed Samy Mansour  M.Sc.2012

Determining Some Genetic Loci of Productive Traits in Some  Mohammed Ahmed El‐ Ph.D.Indigenous Chicken Breeds Using Microsatellite Markers. Sayed 2012

Genotyping characterization of Rhizobia that nodulatesoybean in Egypt.

Sameh Heikal Mohamed Ph.D.2012

Characterization and evaluation of some wheat genotypes under different environmental conditions.

Soliman Abd El‐Maaboud Ph.D. 2012

Characterization and evaluation of some wheat genotypes under drought stress

Mohamed Helmy El‐ Shal Ph.D. 2012

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under drought stress. 2012

Other Organizations involved directly in plant genetic i i i i iresources ex‐situ conservation activities:

• Agriculture Research Center Research Institutions;

• Desert Research Center (DRC);

• National Research Center (NRC);

• Faculties of agriculture (17) and science (15) of different Egyptian universities.

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2. Botanical Gardens

No.Name of

Botanical Garden

Present Area

Dateof Establishment

No. ofSpeciesBotanical Garden

(Feddan)*of Establishment Species

1 Alex. Univ. Fac. of Sci. 2 1942 500

2 Aswan Garden 17 1928 3712 Aswan Garden 17 1928 371

3 El Saff Botanic Garden 17 1893 ‐

4 Orman Botanic Garden, Giza 28 1873 114

5 Q bb P l C i5 Qubba Palace, Cairo 124 1960 350

6 Sabahia Horticultural Research Station‐ 1958 ‐

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* Feddan = 4200 m2

Legislative Frame Work: LawsLegislative Frame Work: Laws

Law No. 53 of 1966;

Law No. 102 of 1983;

Law No. 82 of 2002;

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Legislative Frame Work (Ministerial Decrees)Legislative Frame Work (Ministerial Decrees)

Ministerial Decree No. 1920 of 2003;

Ministerial Decree No. 335 of 2005;

Ministerial Decree No. 862 of 2005;

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