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WHAT IS A CRB?
    A genetic reservoir for research and varietal selection;
    A collection of genetic material composed of heritage and scientific resources.
INRAE manages or co-manages 15 plant biological resource centers (BRCs).
WHAT ARE THEY USED FOR?
    To maintain biodiversity;
    To improve varieties for disease resistance and adaptation to climate change.
These resources are the "reservoirs" of tomorrow. They are living and diverse, which requires the implementation of strict monitoring practices and rules for their maintenance and distribution.
THE SUNFLOWER COLLECTION IN FIGURES
The accessions of the Sunflower BRC have been collected or created by INRAE since 1960.
HERITAGE GENETIC RESOURCES FOR AGRICULTURE AND RESEARCH :

•     2 313 cultivated lines
•     403 ancient populations of cultivated type
•     537 wild related ecotypes of the genus Helianthus

SCIENTIFIC GENETIC RESOURCES FOR RESEARCH:
Sunflower conservation, a plant of interest
Sunflower is a plant of multiple interests as much for its food and non-food outlets as for its agronomic and environmental characteristics. Its cultivation is of major importance for the French oil and protein industry. In the case of sunflower, the aim is to maintain biodiversity and improve varieties for disease resistance and adaptation to climate change. The accessions of the CRB Tournesol are collected or created by INRA since 1960. The collections are kept as seeds in cold storage, at constant temperature (+4°C) and relative humidity (30%); a safety replica is maintained at -20°C. Each sample is identified by a unique barcode, associated with passport and characterization data.
The collections are stored as seeds in cold storage, at constant temperature (+4°C) and relative humidity (30%); a security replica of the heritage collection is maintained at -20°C. Each sample is identified by a unique barcode, associated with passport and characterization data.