With nearly 55000 native higher plant species,Brazil is considered the country with the greatest biodiversity on the planet.These species are distributed over six distinct biomes,which include Amazon forest,Cerrado,Caatinga,Atlantic forest,Meridional forests and grasslands,and the Pantanal.A national system for plant genetic resources conservation is established over the country,which include 554 reservations for in situ conservation and 126 genebanks for ex situ conservation.About 250 000 accessions of plant germplasm have been stored.The Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology(CENARGEN)and Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation(EMBRAPA) are in charge of the management of international exchange for genetic resources.