Final answer:
Certain crops are preserved as germ plasm to maintain genetic diversity, which is crucial for breeding stronger, more resilient crop varieties. Germ plasm includes wild relatives with traits like disease resistance and environmental hardiness, and gene banks help to preserve and provide backup for these crucial genetic resources.
Step-by-step explanation:
Certain crops must be kept as germ plasm to preserve genetic diversity, which is essential for breeding new varieties capable of resisting diseases, pests, and harsh environmental conditions. The germ plasm often includes wild relatives of cultivated crops, which contain a reservoir of genetic traits that can be bred into commercial varieties to improve their resilience and productivity. For instance, wild species may possess genes that help them withstand drought or saline soils. By maintaining and studying the germplasm, biotechnology can harness these genes to develop crops that can cope with such extreme conditions.
The loss of wild species related to domesticated crops could greatly diminish the potential for future crop improvement. To mitigate this risk and ensure a sustainable food supply, gene banks and facilities like the Svalbard Global Seed Vault play a vital role in preserving this biodiversity. These institutions not only serve as repositories for a wide range of seed varieties but also provide a backup for regional seed banks, should any seed varieties be lost due to unexpected events.