System for testing the viability for gene bank conservation of plant genetic resources and/or for the identification and separation of varieties/groups of varieties, the related method and use thereof

A system for the non-destructive identification and separation of viability for gene bank conservation and/or varieties/variety groups of plant genetic resources, wherein the system comprises at least the following:

• a space enclosed by walls,
• i) wherein temperature and humidity of the space is controllable;
• ii) wherein the space contains one or more places suitable for measuring the plant genetic resources to be tested, and is suitable for placing trays for supporting the plant genetic resources;
• a thermal camera positioned to face one or more trays suitable for storing the plant genetic resources to be measured;
• a computer suitable for controlling the thermal camera and for storing and, where appropriate, processing the recordings made by the thermal camera;
• a unit for drying the plant genetic resources to be tested;
• a device for cooling and storing the plant genetic resources to be tested;
• and
• one or more trays suitable for measuring the plant genetic resources to be tested.

A method for the non-destructive identification and separation of the viability for gene bank conservation and/or varieties/variety groups of plant genetic resources, wherein the method includes the following steps:

• a) drying the plant genetic resources to be measured;
• b) cooling said plant genetic resources after drying according to step a) to a temperature of 0° C. or below;
• c) setting the temperature and humidity in the space for measurement, separated by walls;
• d) placing the plant genetic resources to be measured, cooled according to step b) under a thermal camera and the measuring them with a thermal camera, where the measurement lasts no more than 2 hours;
• e) software processing of thermal camera recordings of the named plant genetic resources;
• and
• f) based on the result of the software processing obtained in step e), drawing a conclusion regarding the viability and/or variety/group of varieties of the measured plant genetic resources;
• where named plant genetic resources are placed on the one or more trays suitable for storing the plant genetic resources to be measured before step a), b) or c).