International Journal of Molecular Evolution and Biodiversity, 2025, Vol.15, No.2, 73-83 http://ecoevopublisher.com/index.php/ijmeb 76 Another major genebank is ICRISAT. It has nearly 38 000 samples, mostly made up of traditional types from dry tropical areas. ICRISAT has also created smaller “core” collections to make it easier for researchers to use these seeds in breeding programs (Upadhyaya et al., 2014). In South Africa, the national seed bank has saved 312 traditional sorghum types collected from 1996 to 2008. These seeds help us learn how sorghum has changed in different places. In Nigeria and Mali, scientists used DNA markers to look at how different their sorghum seeds are. These findings can help improve crops in the future (Afolayan et al., 2019). 3.2 Strategies for germplasm conservation There are generally two paths to protect the genetic diversity of sorghum. One way is to collect seeds and store them in a seed bank (this is called 'remote protection'); Another approach is to allow them to continue growing naturally in the fields (i.e. 'in situ conservation'). At present, the former method is used more frequently. Germplasm banks such as the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) in the United States and the International Crop Research Institute for Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) not only store seeds, but also analyze them using modern DNA technology to ensure good sample condition (Allan et al., 2020). In addition, in order to improve utilization efficiency, they also established a "core germplasm bank" and a "mini core germplasm bank" - these are sample sets that are small in number but can represent a wide range of traits and can play a significant role in breeding work (Upadhyaya et al., 2009). Protecting sorghum genetic resources is not just about storing seeds in warehouses. In fact, there are still many places, especially in countries like Ethiopia with complex terrain and variable climate, where farmers are still planting traditional sorghum varieties in their fields. These seemingly ordinary planting behaviors are actually a means of protection in themselves. The differences in natural environments in different regions are already "screening" and "preserving" genes. For example, in eastern Ethiopia, there are some sorghum types with special genes that cannot be found elsewhere. This local genetic characteristic precisely illustrates the importance of in situ conservation - it can continue unique genetic resources that may be overlooked in the laboratory in the real environment (Enyew et al., 2022). Of course, either way, modern tools can come in handy. Scientists now use molecular markers and other methods to not only identify specific genes, but also track population trends. This type of technology can assist in in-situ conservation and optimize the research and practice path for off-site preservation (Girma et al., 2019; Girma et al., 2020). 3.3 Problems in saving sorghum germplasm Even with all these efforts, there are still problems. One big issue is that some seed collections have too many samples that are genetically the same. This wastes time and money. For example, researchers found many similar samples in the U.S. sorghum collection and said they could cut down the number without losing genetic variety. Another issue is keeping the seeds genetically “pure” during regrowth. Sometimes, cross-pollination or outside factors can change the genetic makeup. This is a bigger concern for traditional types stored in genebanks, where differences between and within types can vary a lot (Allan et al., 2020). The issue of funding is also a major challenge currently faced. The preservation and research of seed resources are ultimately not a one-time deal, they require sustained and stable investment of funds. However, the reality is that budgets are often stretched thin. While funding is tight, agricultural technology updates and climate change are quietly changing the planting pattern of sorghum-where and how to plant it are all changing, which undoubtedly makes the protection of genetic diversity even more difficult.
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