Genetic Resources Unit
The Genetic Resources Unit of the World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF) conserves a wide diversity of about 190 species. These are wild, partially domesticated and domesticated trees used in agroforestry systems to supply fruit, timber, medicines and other products.
Many accessions are maintained in field genebanks managed in collaboration with national partners. The field genebanks supply propagating material to local partners in addition to gathering valuable data on the performance of the accessions.
The genebank works closely with research partners to supply agroforestry tree diversity for ICRAF domestication programs and other researchers.
In addition, ICRAF maintains a unique collection of African dryland woody-fodder species.
ICRAF staff carry out basic tests for diseases of quarantine risk. The genebank relies on national partners to monitor plant health in the field genebanks.
Useful information
Leader in Tree Diversity, Domestication and Delivery: Ramni Jamnadass
Head of genebank: Alice Muchugi
Seed scientist: Zakayo Kinyanjui
Genebank Database Officer: Simon Kang’ethe
Status of ICRAF genebank according to performance targets
| 2016 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|
| Accessions | 9,194 | 9,597 |
| Availability | 49% | 71% |
| Safety duplication | 15% | 14% |
| Passport Data Completeness Index (Average) | 5.34 | 6.69 |
ICRAF genebank by the numbers
| Full-time staff equivalents | 17.6 |
| Date to reach performance targets | 2021 |
| Projected accession numbers in 2022 | Multipurpose tree seed 5,319; fruit trees in field 3,600 |