Arthropod Germplasm Information System (AGIS) in India

Arthropods are significant components of diverse ecosystems and are the major players in functioning of ecosystem processes. They must be preserved because of their natural values but also because we require them for human survival. Thus, arthropods must become a main and essential part of the conservation strategy. Insect conservation aims at for saving both endangered species and ecosystem processes with a multitude of approaches. Germplasm is a term used to describe a collection of genetic resources for an organism. Arthropod germplasm is essential in agriculture. Accessibility to the germplasm information like location of availability and characteristics of the arthropod organisms is necessary for the researchers in the form of web based database. Hence, Arthropod Germplasm Information System (AGIS) – an online database has been developed in the country during 2014, for the storage of information about the live arthropod genetic resources maintained at different institutions in India. The exact aim of this AGIS database is to develop, maintain and exchange arthropod germplasm information. AGIS would furnish to the needs of the entomologists especially who working on agriculturally important insects. The website address for this resource is https://databases.nbair.res.in/germplasm/index.php and institutions can register their live arthropod germplasm accessions by accessing this link.