Conservation and utilization of biodiversity in the Andean ecoregion

摘要

Biodiversity in this chapter refers to the totality of genetic diversity that resides in and between plant species in the Andes. The topic of utilization of biodiversity, specifically addressing increasing species diversity in landscape and production systems, and the integration of genetic resources (within-species diversity) into high performing breeding materials is a broad one, with literally thousands of researchers worldwide working in direct applications. In general, the high level of activity reflects the importance of not only conserving genetic resources for their intrinsic and current value, but of studying and realizing their potential for the future through utilization in new varieties to meet food, feed and fibre needs. This chapterwill present a brief general introduction to plant biodiversity in agroecosystems, and then address the specific work being undertaken by the International Potato Center (CIP) in one very important region of the world - the Andean ecoregion. Examples provided rely on information generated and provided by CIP scientists in the course of their research, and which may not yet be published. Further information is available from the CIP website (www.cipotato.org).