OSLO, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Norway has launched a national clone bank for vegetables to safeguard the country's plant genetic diversity, the government announced on Tuesday.
The new facility is located at the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research's (NIBIO) experimental farm at Landvik in southern Norway. The site will be responsible for preserving the genetic diversity of clonally propagated vegetables. NIBIO, one of Norway's largest research institutes, focuses on food security, sustainable resource management, and climate-related challenges.
According to the government, the clone bank at NIBIO Landvik will maintain 160 unique vegetable clones, while another 120 unique herb clones are being conserved at NIBIO's Apelsvoll research station in Toten, eastern Norway.
Unlike seed-based preservation, clonally propagated plants are kept as living specimens in field collections. The clonal vegetable collection includes Jerusalem artichoke, pepper, onion, and rhubarb, all of which have a long history of cultivation in Norway. Herbs and aromatic plants such as hops, wild garlic, tansy, and mountain mint are also being conserved.
The government said climate change, emerging plant diseases, and shifting consumer preferences can rapidly alter which crops and traits are in demand, making it essential to preserve a broad base of genetic diversity for future breeding and cultivation. ■