CARACTERIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF MICROCENTERS OF DIVERSITY FOR IN SITU GERMPLASM MANAGEMENT

Investigators : Meza, G. (UNSAAC), J. Quispe (UNSCH), J. Rea (SEMILLA), F. Terrazas (IBTA-PROINPA), A. Torrico (PIABS), R. Valdivia (CIRNMA), E. Velasco (INIA) (Programa Colaborativo Biodiversidad - CIP - COSUDE)
Editors: M. Holle (CIP); R. Valdivia

People in charged of the works have some commentaries and experiences to tell. This commentaries and experiences would be developed on a extend way in the technical report.

· There are 6 factors that contribute to increase(+) or decrease(-) ART diversity : 1) ART handling by the grower which positive aspect (+) is the use of mixtures of cultivars and its migration to other areas, the negative (-) would be the tendency of breeding a few cultivars. 2) The evolution forces that produce genetic recombination and mutations making variability (+), on the other hand, the negative effect(-) is the lost of cultivars by biotic and non biotic effects. 3) The increase of ART by household use (+),however when only growing 2 or 3 varieties and more of 70% is appointed to the market(-). 4) Incorporporation of new varieties(+) or the replacement of the traditional ones (-). 5) By the information we collected there is a risk of genetic erosion in that places where have been integrated to economic activities because they are close to a town or having good transport ways. ART should be relegated by profitable crops. Elder people is much concerned about conservation of ART. Market relations : the acceptance of different ART cultivars protects biodiversity (+),however market distortions could change that tendency (-). 6) Habits of consumption : the different ways to use ART by the peasant is consequence to diversity of cultivars.
· ART crops constitute economic options for the future and let decrease de risk of damage by diseases, pests or climate. Varieties are conserved considering its resistance to climatic factors, its adaptability to different ecological levels, its capacity to grow associated to other crops . The survival of Andean crops depend on the existence of peasant communities that keep their traditions and knowledge of in situ conservation.
· Seventy percent of the production is stored and selected for seed, the rest is consumed.
· Microcenter are placed in faraway zones with difficult access . At places what are closed to towns or cities it is observed a largest number of improved varieties.