Plant Taxonomy and Biosystematics in PGR Collecting and Conservation

A sound understanding of the principles and practices of plant taxonomy is essential for plant genetic resources (PGR) conservation. Identification of new crop wild relatives (CWR) taxa, designating appropriate taxon status for discontinuous variants representing a geographical area, developing descriptors for new crops, and recruiting wild economic plants and semi-domesticates into cultivation, all require a good taxonomic base. The taxonomy of cultivated plants is essentially governed by a different set of guidelines under International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP). Biosystematic analysis helps to elucidate the genepool relationship of wild relatives with the crop, thereby promoting its utilization in crop improvement.