Oman to set up National Gene Bank

Oman Animal & Plant Genetic Resources Centre is establishing the National Gene Bank in collaboration with the University of Nizwa.

The centre has data on all the 1,400 species of plants, which have been categorised as crops, medicinal plants, etc. The list is on the website www.oapgrc.gov.om The facility can preserve genetic resources for 50 years. Now, it is looking at cryopreservation, which will help preserve for 100 years.

“We are looking into socioeconomic plant species such as the ones in demand for floral industry as well as feed for animals. We achieved it in collaboration with the Birmingham University, and now we are looking into animal genetic resources. The National Gene Bank is to preserve resources but most importantly to utilise them,” explained Dr Nadia al Saadi, Director of Oman Animal Plant and Genetic Resources Center, OAPGRC.

An expert from the International Centre for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas, Lebanon, is now in Oman to help complete preparations for storage. It has a collection of plant species from Oman as well as other parts of the world. Recently the centre signed a pact with the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries for growing seeds for multiplication and characterisation.

Another agreement was signed with Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) to conduct the initial screening for different kinds of pathogens. Once the screening is completed, seeds will be stored in the gene bank. In the list are wheat, barley and vegetables.

“We are thinking of expanding the gene bank,” said Dr Nadia.

Gene banks are important in helping conserve genetic resources such as seeds. “We are trying to get as many as seeds from the same species because it works like immunity. You may be immune to a certain type of influenza, but others may not be. In the same way, plants too have immunity. Some might be tolerant, while others may not. We have to make sure we have a buffer and include all varieties of plants. Some might have resistance for certain diseases, while others might have different levels of resistance,” said the director of the centre.

“We are including species that have adapted to our conditions. Once we include the species in the gene bank, we need to document them. ”