Bioscience Methods 2025, Vol.16, No.2, 60-69 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/bm 65 Figure 2 The mechanism of resistance to Fusarium wilt in sweet potato (Adopted from Yang et al., 2023) 6 Challenges and Opportunities in Genetic Resource Utilization 6.1 Limitations in genetic resource access and use One of the primary challenges in the utilization of genetic resources for sweet potato breeding in China is the limited access to diverse germplasm. This limitation is often due to administrative and legal barriers that restrict the exchange of genetic materials across national borders. Public breeders face significant hurdles in obtaining the necessary genetic diversity to enhance their breeding programs, which is crucial for developing climate-resilient crops (Galluzzi et al., 2020). Additionally, the lack of appropriate technologies to exploit germplasm sets, such as crop wild relatives and landraces, further exacerbates this issue. 6.2 Intellectual property and germplasm exchange policies Intellectual property rights and germplasm exchange policies present another significant challenge. International agreements like the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Nagoya Protocol have recognized the sovereign rights of countries over their genetic resources, leading to more restrictive and cumbersome access to plant genetic resources (PGR) (Ebert et al., 2023). Although the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) attempted to ease this situation by establishing a globally harmonized multilateral system, it remains limited to only a few crops. This restriction hampers the continuous and easy access to genetic diversity, which is essential for breeding new, resilient varieties. 6.3 Opportunities from climate-resilient breeding Despite these challenges, there are significant opportunities in breeding sweet potatoes that are resilient to climate change. The development of drought-tolerant varieties is particularly crucial, as osmotic stress negatively impacts the productivity of sweet potato cultivation. By employing physiological, metabolic, and genetic modifications, breeders can select and improve genotypes that are better adapted to drought conditions. This approach not only enhances food security but also supports smallholder farmers by making the creation of drought-resistant varieties more cost-effective (Sapakhova et al., 2023).
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