Climate Change and the Fate of Genetic Diversity of Crop Wild Relative Species

Abstract

Plant species are experiencing increasing challenges from climate change. Climate change is a serious threat to plant genetic diversity and the survival of many plant species which may substantially alter biodiversity. Crop wild relatives contribute many valuable genes for improvement of crops and being more resilient with the impact of climate change. Do these useful genetic traits from crop wild relatives make them safe from the impact for climate change on their genetic diversity? In this paper, the impact of climate change on crop wild relatives and how the impact will affect the genetic diversity of the species is discussed with focus on factors influencing the genetic diversity. Climate change is expected to cause changes in flowering phenology, plant-polinators interactions, seed dispersal and soil seed bank, the factors which influence the genetic reservoir, genetic composition and frequencies of alleles present in the population. Furthermore, the paper discussed how the climate change may play a direct role in promoting invasive plant species and potential for influencing a range of many plant pests and diseases which will profoundly affect the genetic diversity of plant populations. The consequences of loss of plant genetic diversity was also discussed which includes species being at risk of extinction. Finally, the paper highlighted in situ and ex-situ as important conservation and mitigation measures needed to preserve the genetic diversity of wild plant species.