Plant Genetic Resources

Field Collections

PNG is endowed with a rich diversity of Plant Genetic Resources (PGR), which are the basis for the development of agricultural technologies. These valuable research resources have been neglected in the past due to lack of understanding and appreciation of their values. NARI has been mandated to look after these rich resources of the country by collecting, conserving, maintaining, and utilizing them as well as documenting any of their relevant data/information.

The main activities carried out under the PGR at Laloki include:

  1. Conservation and management of the four national germplasm collections of banana, cassava, aibika and yams
  2. Maintenance of 16 cultivars and 4 breeding lines of taro in a working collection
  3. Morphological characterisation and preliminary evaluation of the germplasm in the collections
  4. Utilization of promising germplasm through selections of superior and promising materials for farmers
  5. Documentation of the PGR data and information on collections in Excel Spreadsheet files and Access Database Programme

A total of 235 accessions of banana, 77 cassava, 72 aibika and 315 accessions of yams are being conserved and maintained in field gene-banks at Laloki. All the germplasm collections are relocated to new sites within Laloki regularly, except banana that is relocated every two (2) years.

Morphological description has been completed for the 77 cassava and 72 aibika accessions. The national banana and yam collections have been characterized, but some descriptors including banana male buds/fruits and the under ground parts of yam are yet to be described.

Preliminary evaluation has been carried out on pest/disease tolerance/resistance and the general growth habit and yield performance for some crop species.

The basic/Minimum Descriptor List for Aibika has been developed and put out as NARI Crop Descriptor List No. 1. The Cassava Minimum Descriptor List is in print and the proposed Minimum Descriptor Lists for sweet potato, banana and yam are being developed.



For further information, Contact

NARI Dry Lowlands Programme
P.O Box 1828, PORT MORESBY
National Capital District
Papua New Guinea

Phone: (675) 323 5511
Fax: (675) 323 4733
Email: naridlp@nari.org.pg