The Genetic Resources Unit

The Genetic Resources Unit (GRU) provides global support to ICRAF regional staff and partners for tree germplasm and tree information needs. It holds separately and/or in conjunction with national programmes collected and procured germplasm in both live and seed gene banks around the world.

In Kenya it also maintains a nursery and field facility at Meru for quarantine, testing and dispatch of introductions to all regions in Africa. Databases which compile information on tree taxonomy, uses, suitability and sources of seed are developed and maintained by the unit. Collectively these are part of the genetic resource activities of ICRAF. 

Since the establishment of the genebank in 1997,GRU database has documented a total of 3,700 accessions collected from 45 countries representing 191 species and 35 families. It holds over 800 different accessions of Faidherbia albida collections from 35 African provenances representing 10 countries while highest number of accessions are collected from Zimbabwe.

The list of accessions can be downloaded here