African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry

African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry ISSN 2375-0979 Vol. 13 (3), pp. 001-009, March, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Review

Preserving Nigeria's Horticultural Heritage: Genetic Resource Management and Biotech Solutions

J. U. Ogbu1, 3, 5*, B. A. Essien2, J. B. Essien4 and M. U. Anaele4

1Horticulture and Landscape Technology Programme, Federal College of Agriculture [FCA], Ishiagu 491105, Nigeria.
2Crop Production Technology Programme, FCA, Ishiagu, Nigeria.
3National Root Crops Research Institute, Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory, Umudike, P. M. B. 7006 Umuahia 440001,
Nigeria.
4Basic Sciences Programme, FCA, Ishiagu, Nigeria.
5Umuahia 440003, Abia State, Nigeria.

Accepted 12 January, 2025

Plant genetic resources (PGR) are basic requirements in crop improvement programme and their importance have increased in recent years with the changing scenario of ownership and legal regimes in relation to biodiversity. Horticultural genetic resources (HGR) are subset of agro -biodiversity that is related to garden crop species or their wild genepool, having genetic material of actual or potential value. Horticultural crops comprise diverse economic species ranging from the fruits/nuts, vegetables, spices and condiments, ornamental plants, aromatic and medicinal plants. Besides the tangible materials, HGR also encompass the indigenous knowledge accumulated over ages among gardeners, and which surround the use of such biological resources. The exploration, collection, characterization, evaluation and utilization of HGR are enormous tasks in a country like Nigeria with wide diversity of these vital groups of plants. Yet relatively little effort hitherto has been made to harness these natural resources of great potential values for food and agriculture, health care, national economy, industrial development and environmental protection. This paper therefore, examined the present status of HGR in Nigeria, the scientific management aspects of the HGR including their diversity, conservation and sustainable use. It also addressed crucial concerns regarding conservation biotechnology in Nigeria vis-à-vis management of the HGR.

Key words: Biodiversity, conservation biotechnology, horticultural genetic resources (HGR), Nigeria.