Crop germplasm is very important for improving agricultural varieties. The Taiwan Seed Improvement and Propagation Station (TSIPS) had in collaboration with the National Plant Genetic Resources Center of the Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute (TARI). Since 2023, TSIPS have updated more than 250 germplasms that building a strong foundation for agricultural production and research.

The TSIPS indicated that the decline of germplasm will bring big challenges to agricultural production. As time goes by, the vitality of crop germplasm slowly weakens, and genetic diversity is lost. This makes agriculture more vulnerable to changes in the environment and pests, threatening the sustainable development of agriculture. Therefore, how to effectively preserve and update crop germplasm is a key issue in current agricultural development.

To solve this problem, the Linluo Branch Station of TSIPS has been updating the germplasm of crops like tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelons, and eggplants since 2023. They had updated 120 germplasms in 2023, 130 germplasm in 2024, and plan to update 90 germplasms in this year(2025).TSIPS said, during the updating process, we investigate traits such as seedlings, plants, flowers, fruits, seeds and look for plant traits that could be used for breeding. Besides, we tested the germination rate of the seeds to make sure the updated germplasm is healthy and vitality.

TSIPS point out that updating the seed bank’s germplasm not only protects agricultural diversity but also makes proactive preparations for future crop improvement and environmental changes. Through cultivation and trait surveys, we gain a better understanding of the characteristics of these crop genetic resources, providing a stable foundation for agricultural production. Additionally, maintaining germplasm diversity not only helps enhance crop disease resistance and stabilize yields but also provides more options and security for farmers in the face of climate change or other extreme weather challenges.

▲Figure 1. The field cultivation of germplasm updating.

▲Figure 2. Through trait surveys helps to better understand the characteristics of the germplasm.