PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES CENTRE (PGRC)

Since the inception of the PGRC in 1989, efforts were continuously made to conserve the Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) of the country, and to promote their use for the benefit of present and future generations. To achieve this, the Centre explores, collects, introduces, conserves, evaluates and documents the genetic diversity of food crops and their related species. The biotechnology fa cilities of the Centre are mainly used to undertake advanced research in PGR evaluation and enhancement. During the year, considerable progress was made in the application of DNA fingerprinting for improvement of new rice varieties and make them resistant to pests and diseases. This work is being done in collaboration with Rice Research and Development Institute, Batalagoda, under the Sri Lanka -USA Cooperative Germplasm Development Programme. PGRC coordinates 14 research and development projects under the Sri Lanka - USA Cooperative Germplasm Development Programme which commenced in 2002 and will continue for 5 years.

Mission/objectives/aim of the unit
The need for the production of more and better food within limited resources to feed the increasing population makes it necessary for plant breeders and agronomists to work continually towards higher yields and improved quality of our food crops. Genetic diversity of the agricultural crops and their wild relatives is a basic necessity for plant breeders in their variety improvement programmes. The genetic diversity of crop plants provides genetic resources required for the development new varieties with high yield potential, resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses and for improvement of the quality of products. These natural resources are finite and vulnerable to extinct due to human intervention such as deforestation, industrial development, road construction, land clearing, mono-culture in agriculture, replacement of traditional/land races by few modern high yielding varieties etc. The realization of the importance of conserving plant genetic resources let to the establishment of Plant Genetic Resources Centre.

Plant Genetic Resources Centre is responsible for planning, implementing and co-ordination activities related to conservation of plant genetic resources. It is actively engaged in exploration, collection, introduction, multiplication, evaluation, conservation, documentation and distribution of the genetic diversity of crops and their related species. Its facilities are also used to conduct biotechnology studies, especially for conservation, evaluation and enhancement of genetic resources.

History of the Unit
Plant Genetic Resources Centre was established in 1988 with the support of Japanese Grant Aid provided through International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The centre has cold storage facilities for short and medium -term conservation of seeds of orthodox species. Vegetatively propagated materials and recalcitrant species are conserved in green houses, the tissue culture repository or in the field. Training facilities are also provided on Plant Genetic Resources for local and foreign scientists. The PGRC functions, under the division of Seed Certification and Plant Protection Centre of the Department of Agriculture under the Ministry of Agriculture, as the nodal organization for promoting and facilitating the conservation and sustainable utilization of PGR.