ABSTRACT
Plant genetic resources (PGR) or plant germplasm are the most directly useful component of the larger biological diversity or biodiversity that includes landraces, cultivars, and varieties of crops and their close as well as distant wild relatives, encompassing both phenotypic and genotypic variation. Such PGR includes landrace or bred cultivars or cultivars/varieties recognised as agro-morphologically and/or genetically distinct by farmers and crop-improvement scientists, and wild relatives. PGR contribute, either directly or indirectly, to people's livelihoods, by providing food, medicine, feed for domestic animals, fibre, clothing, shelter, and help meeting energy needs. They are also the source of many desirable, and often rare, genetic traits needed for crop improvement, which are required to enhance yields and nutritional quality and to cope with biotic and abiotic stresses. Thus, the value of PGR depends on one's perspective and the level of dependence on PGR. However, as the costs of conservation mount, many argue that its value should be measured in tangible terms (i.e., in rupees or dollars).
