621 AJCS 17(8):627-630 (2023) ISSN:1835-2707 doi: 10.21475/ajcs.23.17.08.p3871 Salvaging early generaon seeds and enriching germplasm collecon at the Genec Resources Research Instute in Kenya Jane Muthoni 1,2* , Hussein Shimelis 2 Victor W. Wasike 1 , D. O. Nyamongo 1 , J.I. Kamau 1 and D.K. Muchira 1 1 Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organizaon (KALRO), South Africa 2 African Centre for Crop Improvement, University of KwaZulu-Natal, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Private Bag X01, Scosxille 3209, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa *Corresponding author: jayney480@yahoo.com Abstract In Kenya, plant genec resources are mainly conserved by Genec Resources Research Instute (GeRRI). The instute (formerly known as the Naonal Genebank of Kenya) has to date amassed slightly over 51,000 (fiſty-one thousand) accessions. Recently, GeRRI sought to forestall loss of germplasm in the hands of plant breeders/researchers from various local instuons. This was achieved by reaching out to these researchers and securing genec materials i.e. advanced selecons, breeder, pre-basic or basic seeds that need conservaon. In addion, GeRRI sensized the researchers on the existence of its conservaon facilies which can be ulized to safeguard research materials. Visits were made to KALRO centres and local universies to enlighten the researchers/lecturers on availability of conservaon facilies at GeRRI and to develop terms of engagement concerning deposing of seeds for safe custody. During the visits, a short quesonnaire was administered to researchers by the GeRRI team. The quesonnaire helped in gathering informaon about the various acvies the researchers were engaged in, their understanding of GeRRI and her facilies as well as the services she offers. Only about 28 % of KALRO respondents have ever requested seeds from GeRRI compared to 42 % from the universies. These low percentages could be due to the fact that some researchers are not aware of the germplasm holdings at GeRRI and/or the process of requesng for the seeds. In addion, fewer respondents (about 17 % from universies and 8 % from KALRO centres) have ever deposited their seeds with GeRRI previously. Most local researchers keep their orthodox seeds in stores in paper bags/gunny bags/plasc boles at room temperature. This leads to rapid seed degeneraon and increases the need for frequent regeneraon. Both KALRO and university researchers lauded GeRRI for organising collecon of these early generaon seeds and also requested the instute to undertake similar acvies regularly. Keywords: Early generaon seeds, Genec Resources Research Instute, Plant genec resources conservaon. Introducon Biodiversity (biological diversity) is the variety and variability of life on earth, in all its forms and interacons. It is a measure of variaon at the genec (genec variability), species (species diversity), and ecosystem (ecosystem diversity) level. Genec resources mean genec material of actual or potenal value i.e. any material of plant, animal, microbial or other origin containing funconal units of heredity. Plant genec resources are the genec material of plants, which is of value for present and future generaons (Murray, 2017); plant material with a current or potenal value for food, agriculture and forestry (Brockhaus and Oetmann, 1996). They consist of diversity of seeds and planng materials of tradional variees, modern culvars, crop wild relaves, and other wild plant species and are used for food, feed for domesc animals, fibers, texles, and energy (Ferran, 2016). They are the biological basis of food security and are ulized in research to develop new high yielding and resilient crop culvars for enhanced agricultural producon (Noss and Cooperrider, 1994; Hammer and Teklu, 2008). These resources however connue to face imminent loss through genec erosion occasioned by both bioc and abioc factors. The evident cause of genec erosion is the diffusion of modern variees from crop improvement programs (Brush, 1999); with the development of scienfic plant breeding, high-quality and homogenous new culvars were quickly and widely distributed suppressing landraces. Landraces adapted to opmal local agronomic condions are probably the crop plant genec resources that are most at risk of future loss through habitat destrucon or by being replaced with introduced elite germplasm (Brush,1995). In addion, populaon growth, urbanizaon, developmental pressures on the land resources, deforestaon, changes in land use