On October 16 – 23, 2016, Dr. N. Kakabadze, Department Head of Scientific- Research Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Coordinator of International Relations T. Epitashvili visited South Korea, the aim of which was to exchange plant genetic resources, and discussion of cooperation in the field of management and research.
The Center of Agro-diversity is located in the city Jeonju where the Gen-plasma Bank of plant resources is located. The duplicates are kept in city of Suon. The Gene-bank has in store about 280 species of plants. Georgian researchers visited laboratory of molecular genetics, Research Institute of Horticulture, and Agriculture Scientific Center.
The guests from Georgia were invited to the island of Jeju, where the Institute of Climate Change and Agricultural Scientific Research Institute are located.
The visit was very informative and fruitful as the guests got important information regarding the innovations in the field and strengthened the mutually beneficial scientific and practical relationships between two countries. They took from Georgia about 100 accessions of vegetables and fruit, also greens and legume crop samples. (supported with necessary documentation). These are:
1. Fhaseolus Vulgaris L- beens ( 18 accessions)
2. Melongena – Aubergine ( 3)
3. Anethum Graveolens L – dill
4. Lycopersicum esculentum Mill – Potato ( 11 )
5. Allium cepa L – onion (10)
6. Cucurbita Pepo L – hard skin pumpkin
7. Cucurbita Moschita Duch – sweet pumpkin (2 )
8. Brassica Capitata Lizg(Likani) – cabbage ( 1 )
9. Cucumis Sativus (Nejini) – cucumber (12)
10. Anethum sp. – dill ( 4 )
11. Daucus Carota L (Nantis) – carrot (3 )
12. Beta Vulgaris L (Bordo) – beetroot ( 2)
13. Apium graveolens – celery (3)
14. Petroselium crispum - parsley (5 )
15. Crocus sativus – saffron (3 )
16. Lepidium sativum L.- cress (1 )
- 1.17. Trigonella - spice/ trigonella (4 )
18. Mayz - vegetable corn (5 )
19. Pea - pea ( 2 )
20. Green – orchard green (1 )
21. Raphanus – radish (1 )
22. Cuminum - cyminum - 2
23. Vicia faba - horse been ( 4 )
From South Korea gene fund center within the project 105 species of vegetables have been delivered and in-vitro plants. Some of them will be tested on the testing plot of scientific-research Center. The species which will be identified as perspective ones will be selected and needed documentation will be prepared to be passed to Sakpatent. They will be registered and distributed in different regions. The Georgian Bank of gene plasma will be enriched with new specimens and kept in gene bank. These are the following samples delivered from South Korea: 1. Brassica juncea , 2 Capsicum annuum L. , 3. Cucumis melo , 4. Raphanus sativus L. ; 5. Brassica rapa subsp. Pekinensis ; 6. Lactuca sativa L. ; 7. Spinacia oleracea .
In June- July 2016, an expedition was organized by Georgian and Korean scientists in the following regions of Georgia: Kartli, Kakheti, Mtskheta-Teaneti, Marneuli, Bolnisi where the accessions of vegetable, greens, legumes and orchard, also vine seed materials were selected. These materials will be kept in Korea, gene-bank of Center of Agro-bio-diversity.
The following cultures were sent to Korea: 119 accessions
1. Vegetables – 119 accessions;
2. Orchard– 72 accessions;
3. legumes – 129;
4. Greens – 157;
5. Cereals – 7
6. Vine – 70
Gene- bank laboratory: President of GAAS assistant, T. Epitashvili , and Dr. Nato Kakabadze.