Current situation, problems, and suggestions for forage germplasm resource conservation in China

Forage germplasm resources are an important component of biodiversity and a significant strategic resource for China. The conservation of forage germplasm resources in China has led to achievements in the establishment of conservation systems for collection and conservation, identification and evaluation, germplasm innovation, and sharing and utilization. However, there have been some problems, such as insufficient measures for in situ conservation, the risk of extinction of rare resources, and the hysteresis of evaluation and innovation. In the future, it is imperative to protect the in situ conservation of forage germplasm resources, to enhance the protection and collection of main forage species, to reinforce the systemic evaluation and thorough exploration of resources, and to provide sufficient support for forage germplasm resources in the forage seed industry.