Gene banks are one way of preserving endangered genetic resources and thereby preserving biotic diversity. With constant changes in the environment, it is crucial to preserve the genetic diversity of plant species, as it enables them to adapt and survive in the face of various biotic and abiotic stressors. For this purpose, various conservation, management and procedures have been established, which are enshrined in conventions and strategies. These are documents at the national and international levels, which enable the preservation of genetic diversity both in natural environments and outside it. Plant genetic resources can be preserved in in situ and ex situ conditions, depending on the plant species. Gene banks are institutions that store genetic material in the form of seeds, tissue cultures, collection plantations, cryopreserved parts and genetic information of the nucleotide record of the DNA molecule. Gene banks can operate at the national or international level as independent institutions or as associations of several banks. In Slovenia we have gene banks that preserve endangered local plant genetic resources as part of various institutions that are connected to each other and since 2018 have been operating as part of the Public Service of Plant Gene Bank tasks.
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