Game-changers: The Role of Students in Plant Genetic Resources Research

Abstract

Plant genetic resources (PGR) conservation is not yet a household phrase, unlike biodiversity conservation. PGR, a subset of biodiversity, are primarily used for plant breeding or  crop improvement. Better crop varieties are essential to sustain food crop productivity, as well as, other crops for other uses. Sustaining crop breeding programs critically needs the availability of diverse PGR that are increasingly at risk of genetic erosion. PGR conservationists are still few and perhaps rare, compared to the work that needs to be done. Including and involving students to do research on PGR and their conservation, management and utilization could address many of the research gaps such as discovery of less known PGR and characterization of conserved PGR for pre-breeding work. However, research may change the course of the game, that their research experience on PGR and their findings could be transformative that they become future conservation leaders, champions and influencers.