EURISCO

EURISCO provides a searchable catalogue of passport and phenotypic data for over two million crop plant germplasm accessions conserved by more than 400 holding institutions across 43 countries, supporting the conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources.

Key Features:

• Extensive Database: Contains data on over two million crop plant accessions from more than 400 holding institutions across 43 countries.
• Collaborative Network: Maintained via National Inventories (NIs) and coordinated by the European Cooperative Programme for Plant Genetic Resources (ECPGR) to ensure standardized data collection and sharing.
• Passport and Phenotypic Data: Stores passport metadata (origin, acquisition, distribution) alongside phenotypic trait data for accessions.
• Legal and Strategic Support: Supports member countries in meeting obligations under the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources, the Second Global Plan of Action for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (FAO), and the Convention on Biological Diversity.
• Research and Development: Serves as a foundational resource for research into genetic diversity and the development of sustainable agricultural practices.

Scientific Applications:

• Genetic Diversity Studies: Enables exploration of genetic variation within and between species and identification of traits for breeding programs.
• Conservation Biology: Provides distribution and trait data to support conservation of rare or endangered plant varieties.
• Agricultural Development: Facilitates identification of phenotypic traits relevant to resistance to diseases, pests, and environmental stresses for crop improvement.

Methodology:

Aggregates National Inventory datasets through standardized data collection and sharing practices coordinated by ECPGR.