Our Collections
International Links
We hold approximately 14,000 accessions (seed samples)
of different vegetable crops. Our material originates
from across the world and consists of landraces, old
commercial varieties and wild relatives of crops together
with breeding and research lines. Our collections are of
global significance in terms of the coverage of particular
crop genepools.
Warwick GRU is an active
participant in the European
Co-operative Programme for
Crop Genetic Resources
Our largest collections include:
Brassica
oleracea
cultivated forms including broccoli,
cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprout,
kale and kohl rabi plus related wild
species
Brassica napus
horticultural & fodder forms; kale and
swede
Brassica rapa
horticultural & fodder forms; including
Chinese cabbage, broccolletto, kale and
turnip
Brassica juncea
horticultural & fodder forms; leaf
mustards
Raphanus
cultivated and wild radish
Allium
cultivated forms of onion, leek, Welsh
leek and selected wild species
Daucus
cultivated carrot and related wild
species
Lactuca
cultivated lettuce and related wild
species
We also hold smaller collections of other crops such as
parsnip, celery, rocket and chicory.
How are the Warwick GRU collections used?
We receive requests for seed from researchers and plant
breeders from all over the world. Uses have included:
• Identifying new sources of resistance to pests and
diseases
• Broadening diversity in crop breeding programmes
• Investigating variation in nutritional content within
different vegetable crops
• Researching biofuels and plant-based materials
• Crop evolution and domestication
• Studies of water and nutrient use efficiency in crops
We are an Associate Member
of AEGIS (A European
Genebank Integrated System),
a project aimed at developing
a decentralized European
Collection of unique and
important plant genetic
resources and making them
available for breeding and
research
Collection Safety and Security
Warwick GRU exchanges and stores duplicate samples
of collections held in genebanks in Europe and Asia as a
‘safety backup’ should there be a catastrophic loss at any
one location.
How to contact us:
Warwick Genetic Resources Unit
Wellesbourne Campus
University of Warwick
Wellesbourne
Warwick
CV35 9EF
UK
Tel: +44 (0) 2476 574978
Fax: +44 (0) 2476 574500
Email: sls.genebank@warwick.ac.uk
Follow @WarwickGRU on Twiiter
Warwick GRU is funded by Defra
seeds
for the future
Warwick Genetic
Resources Unit
The UK Vegetable Genebank
Conserving Vegetable Genetic Resources
Our Conservation Work
Natural genetic variation in crops and their wild
relatives has been exploited by farmers since the dawn of
agriculture. A rich tapestry of agricultural biodiversity
has been created through selection by farmers and this
diversity provides resilience in crop production systems.
We have dedicated glasshouse, laboratory, drying and storage
facilities for the conservation and management of our seed
collections. Our work centres on four major activities:
Such biodiversity is under
threat from more recent
social and economic
changes. Over the past few
decades high-yielding ‘elite’
modern varieties have been
introduced; these are grown
over a wide geographical
area and fit with industrialscale modern farming
methods. In contrast the
traditional varieties or ‘landraces’, developed over many
generations by farmers to suit the conditions on their own
farms, are often no longer maintained.
As these landraces can offer
new sources of beneficial
traits which can be
incorporated into new elite
varieties, it is essential to
ensure they are conserved
and available for plant
breeding and research. Wild
relatives of crops are also
a valuable resource and
offer researchers and plant
breeders further sources of genetic variation not present in
cultivated types.
Storage
Our seed is dried to 5% moisture content and then sealed
in foil laminate packets and kept at -20oC. Under these
conditions, seed from some species will remain viable for
decades, if not a century or more. Once in the cold store,
germination tests are carried out periodically to monitor
seed viability.
Opened in 1980, Warwick Genetic Resources Unit is
the UK vegetable genebank. Our remit is to carry out
collection, documentation and long-term conservation
of the genetic variation present within cross-pollinated
vegetables and related wild species.
Documentation
Passport data on each accession, and any available image
or other data are collated and maintained in a database,
along with germination test results and seed stock levels;
this activity is essential to the success and efficiency of
our work. Passport data for our available material can be
found in the EURISCO database http://eurisco.ecpgr.org
Email: sls.genebank@warwick.ac.uk
Follow @WarwickGRU on Twitter
Regeneration
An accession is regenerated as seed stock levels or viability
requires. Out-crossing crops are pollinated in insectproof cages to maintain the genetic characteristics of each
accession. Seeds are harvested, threshed, cleaned, dried
and weighed before being packaged and returned to the
long-term store.
Distribution
Seed from our collections is available to organisations
involved in plant breeding, research, education or
development. We distribute seed under the terms of the
Standard Material Transfer Agreement as required by the
International Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources for Food
and Agriculture. Please contact us to request seed or to ask
for assistance in selecting accessions to test.
Web: www.warwick.ac.uk/go/gru