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Context and Objectives

Researchs carried out in Biological Resources Centre's (BRC) team aim to describe and promote the genetic diversity conserved into its small grain cereals collections. This valorisation is done on one hand through multi-local evaluation networks at national and international levels, and on the other hand in taking part directly, as a partner, to research projects (Breedwheat, Whealbi) on specific targets whose all objectives contribute to elaborate ultimately more productive varieties in the context of a sustainable agriculture. Use of genetic resources with agronomical interest is indeed the starting point of all process of varietal improvement. Collections gathering these resources have to be managed wisely, in other words:

• described for passport data (donor, geograhical origin,..) making these resources available in the framework of regulatory in force, according to exchange traceability standards
• evaluated for agronomical and molecular characteristics, in order to facilitate the access to diversity held and make faster and more effective its utilisation in breeding programme
• propagated and conserved under quality standards.

The small grain cereals BRC manages, in this way, around 27 000 accessions or genetic entity (landraces, old varieties, elites lines) pf species from Triticum, Hordeum, Avena, Secale, Triticosecale, Aegilops genus and other wild relatives.

Research activities are developed under two mains axes: