Collection sector of Suceava Genebank has two different domains:
- collection of plant genetic resources for completion and diversification of seeds collection
- collection of plant genetic resources for herbarium (completion and systematization of herbarium collection)
Suceava Genebank keeps in collections a number of 439 plant species, classified in the following culture categories: cereals, legumes, forage grasses, forage legumes, vegetables, roots and tuber roots, industrial plants, medicinal and aromatic plants, ornamental plants. Making of collections had in 1990, at establishment of Suceava Plant Genetic Resources Bank, as the main source, the genetic material stored in Suceava Agricultural Station, the core collection being represented by the maize germplasm. At the beginning of our activity, we continued to acquisition plant genetic resources from collections of various institutions/agricultural stations in Romania, in order to improve inter and intraspecific diversity at the main crops with importance for national agriculture. In parallel, we held an intense collecting activity, almost every year being organized collecting expeditions, with medium or short term, most part of the country being systematically explored. Then, collection priorities have changed over time, so if initially we were collected, only local populations of grains, legumes and potatoes, in the last years, collecting a great variety of vegetable species, and some groups of medicinal plants, herbs, fodder and ornamental, has been the object of our collecting expeditions. In recent years, was initiated the acquisition of genetic material from priority species, established depending on the objectives of collecting/ acquisition.
Acquisition of plant genetic resources is based on Annual Research and Development Program of PGR. In developing of the program, we taking account of projects with collecting activity, with funds from external or internal sources, other than current operating budget of the institution.
Acquisition is most efficient when:
- a sufficient quantity of sample is available for germination and viability tests
- a substantial part of the sample can be stored for medium and long term conservation in order to prevent loss of endangered species or to fill gaps on the geographical distribution of the species existing in collections, but with a number of samples relatively small
- another part may be used in educational interest, in some ecological studies, genetic or botanical or by internal and external users for research purposes
- also a small part of the sample can be available for immediate use - in breeding programs or for reintroducing in culture of traditional varieties by farmers.
The methods used for the acquisition of new germplasm are:
- by direct collection - organizing and exploring of own collecting missions. Here we distinguish the following types of collecting missions:
- collecting missions organized in Romania;
- collecting missions abroad, which are the subjects of bilateral or international projects.
- acquisition of biological material from the collections of various entities (institutes/agricultural stations, botanical gardens, etc.), which working with plant germplasm;
- exchange of germplasm or request of genetic material from the similar units abroad. Applications are made by consulting online databases of various gene banks worldwide, and the selection criteria is the origin of samples, priority given to the material with Romanian origin or from geographical areas in similar terms pedo-climatic, with our country.
Of all, the main source of genetic material is the collecting missions, which are focused on traditional varieties or local populations, old varieties, removed from the culture, forms which are the most threatened by genetic erosion, and also crop wild relatives.
Collecting/acquisition of genetic material is always accompanied by dialogues with local people, owners of agricultural land, which preserves traditional cultivars, trying to get as much information relating to collected samples and pedo - climatic conditions of ecological areas, also socio - economic conditions existing at households in isolated communities, these information being included in “on farm” descriptors.
Suceava Genebank has currently a collection of more than 17.000 samples, as a result of a collecting activity for almost 26 years. From these, a number of 7.343 samples representing 221 species were collected in the collecting missions organized by our institution in about 1.040 localities from our country.
Year by year, we enlarged the activity, and so far we succeeded to explore ecological zones more geographical isolated, with a rich biodiversity and a high concentration of local varieties from 38 counties and to collect a highly diversified research material from cultivated and wild flora.
As a result of collecting activity, firstly we succeeded collecting of significant local and traditional varieties, because some farmers still preserve genetic variability of these local populations, by permanent cultivation and their uses, also identification of geographical areas with plant genetic resources of high biological interest, and secondly we focused on mediatization of traditional cultivars importance in conservation and sustainable use of agro – ecosystems, and strengthening the role of local communities for using and promoting these traditional forms.
| Culture category | No. of samples |
| Cereals | 2836 |
| Legumes | 2626 |
| Vegetables | 979 |
| Roots and tuber roots | 244 |
| Industrials | 38 |
| Forage grasses | 111 |
| Ornamental plants | 47 |
| CWR | 117 |
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| Fodor Aurica, George Enescu, Dumeni village, Botoșani county | Local variety of maize in Palotas, Ungaria | Chilli peppers in Budeşti, Vrancea | Hot peppers variety from Grădinari, Olt |
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| Hot peppers varieties | Local variety of maize in Maramures | Local variety of maize, Sibiu | Landraces of Zea mays, Câmpulung Moldovenesc, Suceava |
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| Local landraces of Zea mays from our collection | Bean varieties (Phaseolus vulgaris) | Local variety of pumpkin in Vorona, Botoşani | Potato tubers from our collection (Solanum tuberosum) |
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| Hot peppers varieties in Poiana Cristei, Vrancea | Solanum lycopersicum | Solanum lycopersicum var. piriforme | Maize harvesting in Băişoara, Cluj |
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| Collecting of Solanum tuberosum, Remeti, Maramureș | Collecting of Avena fatua, Râşca, Cluj | Storage of chilli peppers in plastic bags Palotas, Ungaria | Storage of potatoes in plastic bags, Breaza, Braşov |
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| Storage of maize in Palotas, Ungaria | Storage of maize in Răşinari, Sibiu | Storage of cereals in wood box, Telechirecea, Braşov | Wheat sheaves for drying in Văleni, Maramureş |
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| Storage of potatoes in raised wood beds, Turnu Roşu, Sibiu | Sale of seeds in local market, Săcel, Maramureş | Sale of local varieties in front of the house, Adunații Copăceni, Giurgiu | Traditional household, Almașu Mare, Alba |
The collection of medicinal and aromatic plants is represented by 387 samples belonging to 109 plant species, grouped into 3 categories according to the main use:
- Medicinal plants - with different therapeutic actions on the human body (246 samples);
- Aromatic and spicy plants - containing volatile substances and etheric oils, valuable raw materials in the cosmetic, perfume, alcoholic and food industries (136 samples);
- Tincture plants - which contain tannins in different organs of the plant and which are used in the leather industry (5 samples).
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| Calendula officinalis | Calendula officinalis | Papaver somniferum | Glaucium flavum |
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| Papaver somniferum | Hibiscus esculentus | Glaucium flavum | Salvia officinalis |
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| Salvia officinalis | Salvia officinalis | Salvia officinalis | Mentha piperita |
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| Mentha piperita | Sinapis alba | Sinapis alba | Foeniculum officinale |
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| Nigella sativa | Nigella sativa | Satureja hortensis | Melissa officinalis |
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| Ocimum basilicum | Trigonella caerulea | Melissa officinalis | Carum carvi |
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| Coriandrum sativum | Coriandrum sativum | Hyssopus officinalis |
We collect, study and preserve plant genetic diversity for present and future utilization.