Improvement of the citrus sector by the setting up of common conservation strategies for the free exchange of healthy citrus genetic resources

Communications présentant les divers programmes de conservation des ressources génétiques du citron c'est-à-dire de leur contrôle sanitaire, l'identification des germoplasmes, leur évaluation physiologique (besoins en eau...), leur conservation et leur libre-échange. Les pays partenaires de ce programme sont présentés. ©Electre 2026

OM est une collection du Ciheam dédiée au développement de l'agriculture méditerranéenne. Publiée en forme de périodique du 1970 à 1976, le titre OM a été donné à la collection Etudes du 1981 au 1989. Actuellement OM comprend trois collections: Séminaires Méditerranéens (Ser.A), Etudes et Recherches (Ser.B) et Cahier OM.

OM is a Ciheam series devoted to the development of Mediterranean agriculture. Having appeared in the form of a periodical from 1970 to 1976, the title OM has been given to the "Etudes" series from 1981 to 1989. To date, OM includes three series: Séminaires Méditérranéennes (Ser. A), Etudes et Recherches (Ser. B) and Cahier OM.

This volume is composed of two parts: the first reports on the proceedings of the 1^st and 2^nd technical joint meetings of the Mediterranean Network on Certification of Citrus (MNCC), under the aegis of Ciheam/IAMB, and of the Mediterranean Citrus Network (Mecinet), under the aegis of FAO, aimed at proposing a joint program for a sustainable enhancement of healthy citrus genetic in the Mediterranean. It includes an exhaustive presentation of: - the network activities; the citrus cooperation programmes; - the contents of the short-course on Advanced techniques for the collection, sanitary assessment, sanitation and conversation of citrus germplasm.In the second part, the Mediterranean project on Improvements of the citrus sector in the Mediterranean by the setting up of common conservation strategies for the free exchange of healthy citrus plant genetic ressources is presented, including the partner country programs.

The threats of citrus diversity erosion in the Mediterranean, mainly due to the lack of sanitary measures, care and maintenance, although not alarming yet, represent the major challenge to face in order to improve citrus in this region.

The MNCC and Mecinet joint proposal is aimed to promote the establishment of national programs in the Mediterranean for citrus germplasm identification, characterization, physiological assessment in terms of water use efficiency, sanitation, conservation and free exchange. This would preserve the Mediterranean from the dissemination of diseases through citrus germplasm exchange and would favourite citrus improvement and management maintaining the existing citrus genepool.