Dr Matthew Ordidge, scientific curator of the collection and Research Fellow in the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development at the University of Reading, will talk about the valuable diversity represented within the many different varieties, the origins of some of this diversity and the scientific work that goes on to protect the varieties for the future.
Nick Wray, curator of the Botanic Garden, said: “The value of the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale Farm cannot be over emphasised. With a rich heritage of local apple cultivars in the UK, Brogdale’s work in conserving our national genetic diversity of apples is crucial to help sustain long-term food security. The diversity of apple cultivars available is immense. I look forward to hearing more about this fascinating collection.”
The collection, owned by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, is part of an international programme to protect plant genetic resources for the future and to increase its value for use in future breeding programmes.
Plant genetic resources enable crops to be adapted in the face of increasing pressures from pests and diseases, changing market requirements, and the uncertainties posed by global climate change, whilst addressing the increasing need for environmental responsibility.
Conservation of genetic diversity is a core component of managing the National Fruit Collection, with activities such as cryopreservation providing additional long-term security to the collection.
The National Fruit Collection - what it is and why we have it organised by the Friends of the University’s Botanic Garden will take place on Thursday 18 October 2012 at 7.30 pm in the University of Bristol’s School of Biological Sciences, Room B75, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG.
Admission is £5 for non-members, free to Friends of the Garden.
Further information is available from the Botanic Garden, tel 0117 331 4906 or email botanic-gardens@bristol.ac.uk