RESOLUTION

VIII International Scientific and Practical Conference

“Biotechnology as an Instrument for Plant Biodiversity Conservation (physiological, biochemical, embryological, genetic and legal aspects)”

Yalta, Republic of the Crimea, Russia

October 1-5, 2018

On October 1-5, 2018, VIII International scientific and practical conference “Biotechnology as an Instrument for Plant Biodiversity Conservation (physiological, biochemical, embryological, genetic and legal aspects)” was held in the Nikitsky Botanical Gardens under the auspices of the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS).

More than 100 specialists from 68 scientific and pedagogical institutions of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Brazil, Germany, Israel, Italy, Iran, Costa Rica, Portugal, Croatia, Czech Republic and Finland took part in the conference. In addition to that in the conference’s proceedings there have been published the works of scientists from 80 scientific organizations and universities of Russia and from near and far abroad.

Summarizing a comprehensive discussion of the results of work in the field of plant biotechnology, the intensive development and widespread introduction of methods of biotechnology, molecular and cell biology, biochemistry, physiology and certain aspects of plant reproductive biology for solution topical issues of study, conservation and expansion of plant genetic diversity has been specified. At the same time, the issues of study and conservation of biodiversity ex situ and in situ were touched upon during the discussions.

It has been stated that the urgency of the issue of biotechnology development is due to the need of:

• development of scientific relations and concentration of efforts of the parties on the effective solution of priority scientific and technological challenges;
• implementation of coordinated scientific-technological and innovative policy in the field of plant biotechnology to ensure the competitiveness in the world market;
• harmonization of the legal and regulatory framework;
• conduction of coordinated activities in the field of standardization, certification, as well as the protection and involvement of intellectual property in the economic turnover in the field of plant biotechnology;
• effective use of existing and newly created production and technical base;
• coordination of relations in the field of development of biotechnologies and manufacture of bio-products.

Special attention has been paid to the question of cooperation in the field of biotechnology, molecular biology, biochemistry, physiology and reproductive plant biology, which opens up new opportunities for the exchange of scientific experience, access to information bases, development of new methods and technologies, realization of joint projects of all countries of the conference participants. Therefore, it is necessary to concentrate scientific potential on priority areas, harmonization of the legal and regulatory framework and exchange of information.

During the conference 6 plenary and 44 sectional reports were heard. There were presented 56 posters. The conference proceedings have been published. Full papers will be publishing in Acta Horticulturae. The participants of the conference state the following main tasks in the field of development of modern plant biotechnologies:

• - development of the resource base of biotechnologies of participating institutions (national collections of plant cell and tissue cultures, viral isolates, genetic engineering structures, etc.);
• - creation of a unified database of national collections of plant cell and tissue cultures;
• - development of technologies for obtaining cellular biomass and the use of quantitative and qualitative analysis methods to evaluate the content of biologically active substances in intact plants, callus and suspension cultures;
• - development and improvement of DNA technology (molecular genetic monitoring of plant collections ex situ and the formation of the core-collections, genetic certification of collections, development and implementation of methods of molecular genetic diagnosis of phytopathogens, development and implementation of methods of marker-mediated plant breeding, molecular-genetic monitoring of populations of rare and endangered plants, the creation of cultivars with bioengineered methods);
• - development of biotechnology of woody plants;
• - adoption of new biotechnologies and products on the basis of partnership and within the framework of scientific and production associations.

The participants note the mutual interest and in many cases complementarity of approaches to understanding and realization of tasks in the field of biotechnology, in light of this it is advisable to expand the following activities:

• creation and development of the national collection of cultures of plant cells and tissues, as well as common databases of these collections;
• harmonization of rules for deposit, access and transfer of cell cultures in accordance with international agreements and standards;
• implementation of search, screening, chromosomal and molecular genetic certification of new genetic resources;
• registration of the results of scientific research presented during the conference in the form of further joint projects, grants, cooperation agreements, etc.

The conference participants have adopted (unanimously) the following resolution:

1. To admit that the tasks set before the conference have been completed successfully;
2. The realization of the activities in the field of development of complex research in a number of areas, such as biotechnology, biochemistry, physiology, reproductive biology and molecular genetics of plants, proposed during the conference and aimed at preserving plant biodiversity, is to consider as the most important task for the next period;
3. To state the need for broad participation in the conference of botanical gardens, which are the centers of biodiversity conservation of plant life. The Organizing Committee of the conference will involve the leading botanical gardens to the organization of the conference, which will greatly support the scientific activities and the role of botanical gardens.
4. To organize and hold a school of young scientists on the basis of the conference. To initiate participation in the conference of teachers, students and postgraduates of federal universities and biological institutions.
5. To honor the excellent work of the Organizing Committee;
6. To express gratitude to the administration of FSFIS "NBG-NSC" for the assistance and support provided to the conference;
7. To express gratitude to the main sponsors of the conference.
8. We propose to hold the next conference in 2020 on the base of Mahidol University in Bangkok (Thailand) by Prof. Dr. Kanchit Thammasiri.

The Organizing Committee of the VIII International Scientific and Practical Conference “Biotechnology as an Instrument for Plant Biodiversity Conservation (physiological, biochemical, embryological, genetic and legal aspects)”.