Turkey to open world's third largest plant gene bank

The bank has a resource capacity of 250,000 species; and it will preserve not only plant resources but also genes of bacteria and fungi which are used in agricultural production.

The gene bank was started to be constructed on July 30, 2009 in the campus of Agriculture & Rural Affairs Ministry in Yenimahalle district, and completed only with Turkish finance for two million TL. (1 USD = 1.54 TL)

At least 25 experts will work in the bank.

The bank will preserve both plant genetic resources in Turkey and other genetic resources which will be obtained from foreign countries through international agreements.

Prof. Hayri Duman, dean of Faculty of Science & Letters of Gazi University, said that plant genetic resources banks were very important to transfer the plant diversity to the next generations.

He noted that hybrid species, which were brought from foreign countries, caused Turkish seeds to get extinct, adding that local gene resources should be preserved for the future.

Over 500 habitat, 12,054 plant species (3,905 of which are endemic), over 400 bird, more than 500 fish, over 100,000 reptile and over 160,000 invertebrate species are registered in Turkey.

Only 2,400 of 12,000 plant species are endemic in Europe, while this number is 3,905 in Turkey.

300,000 resources are under protection in the plant genetic bank in China, and 280,000 in the U.S.

There are 10,000 plant resources in the gene bank which was previously established in Ankara and 50,000 plant resources in the gene bank in the western province of Izmir. These resources will be transferred to the new bank in Ankara.

Scientists think there are 300,000-500,000 plant species in the world.


/World Bulletin/