RESUMEN
Crop wild relatives (CWRs) are important sources of novel genes, due to their high variability of response to biotic and abiotic stresses, which can be invaluable for crop genetic improvement programs. Recent studies have shown that CWRs are threatened by several factors, including changes in land-use and climate change. A large proportion of CWRs are underrepresented in genebanks, making it necessary to take action to ensure their long-term ex situ conservation. With this aim, 18 targeted collecting trips were conducted during 2017/2018 in the center of origin of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), targeting 17 diverse ecological regions of Peru. This was the first comprehensive wild potato collection in Peru in at least 20 years and encompassed most of the unique habitats of potato CWRs in the country. A total of 322 wild potato accessions were collected as seed, tubers, and whole plants for ex situ storage and conservation. They belonged to 36 wild potato species including one accession of S. ayacuchense that was not conserved previously in any genebank. Most accessions required regeneration in the greenhouse prior to long-term conservation as seed. The collected accessions help reduce genetic gaps in ex situ conserved germplasm and will allow further research questions on potato genetic improvement and conservation strategies to be addressed. These potato CWRs are available by request for research, training, and breeding purposes under the terms of the International Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) from the Instituto Nacional de Innovacion Agraria (INIA) and the International Potato Center (CIP) in Lima-Peru.
RESUMEN
Las colecciones científicas y entre ellas los herbarios representan importantes fuentes de información y enseñanza para los investigadores y profesionales en ciencias biológicas. El Herbarium Areqvipense (HUSA), registrado en el Index Herbariorum desde el año 2004, alberga una de las colecciones más importantes del Perú. En este trabajo brindamos información de la colección y damos a conocer su representatividad para la flora peruana. El HUSA cuenta con más de 11000 especímenes registrados, distribuidos en más de 2300 especies, correspondientes en su mayor parte a Magnoliophyta y Pteridophyta (ca. 98%), y en menor proporción por Basidiomycetes y Ascomycetes (Hongos y Líquenes) y Bryophyta (Musgos). Los especímenes provienen de 23 departamentos del Perú, donde Arequipa presenta el mayor número de individuos colectados (3375), equivalente al 31% de la colección. Las familias Asteraceae y de Solanaceae son las mejor representadas con 1571 y 964 especímenes, respectivamente. La mayor cantidad de especímenes georeferenciados corresponden a la zona de vida Bosque muy húmedo bajo tropical con el 15%, seguido por el Bosque muy húmedo premontano tropical con el 8%. Se dan además a conocer los tipos presentes en la colección, así como una reseña del desarrollo del HUSA desde su creación.
Scientific collections and herbaria are essential sources of information and education for researchers and practitioners in biological sciences. The Herbarium Areqvipense (HUSA), registered at Index Herbariorum since 2004, holds one of the most important collections in Peru. In this paper we provide information about the collection, and its representativeness for the Peruvian flora. HUSA has more than 11000 specimens recorded to date, with more than 2300 determined species, consisting mostly of Magnoliophyta and Pteridophyta (ca. 98%), and a smaller proportion of Basidiomycetes, Ascomycetes (fungi and lichens) and Bryophyta (mosses). The collection includes specimens from 23 departments of Peru, where the samples belonging to Arequipa have the largest number of individuals collected (3375) accounting for 31% of the collection. Asteraceae and Solanaceae are the most collected with 1571 and 964 specimens, respectively. The majority of geo-referenced specimens came from the tropical wet forest with 15%, followed by the tropical pre-montane wet forest with 8%. We also provide a list of the nomenclatural types and a brief summary of the history and development of HUSA since its creation.