Résumé
Since the early 1990's, the Plant Biotechnology Laboratory, a collaborative project between the Forestry Division of the Yayasan Sabah Group (YSG) and the Centre de Cooperation Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Developpement (CIRAD), has been gathering as many different teak (Tectona grandis) genetic resources as possible in Sabah, East Malaysia. Beside genetic assessments, the objective was to establish diverse base populations that can be used for genetic improvement of the species including identification and commercial distribution of superior clones for establishment of plantations. Within that same period, the Plant Biotechnology Laboratory evolved from a full Research and Development unit into a commercial subsidiary of Yayasan Sabah Group, and is now known as YSG Biotech Sdn Bhd. A review of the status of the teak genetic resources gathered since the beginning of this project, two decades ago, is detailed in this paper. The teak "plus trees" from which the first clonal rooted cuttings and in vitro plants originated, as well as the demonstration plots established for assessing the field conformity of the resulting offspring propagated by different nursery and in vitro vegetative propagation methods are described. Seedlings from highly diverse genetic origins were also used for setting up provenance-progeny trials which were subsequently converted into seed stands and seed orchards. The usefulness of the tissue culture facilities and related biotechnologies available within the project for efficiently managing and mass propagating these field resources, or for international dispatch are presented. All these assets are appealing for establishing high yielding and quality teak plantations locally and in various parts of the world, especially with the increasing difficulty to access teak germplasm from many countries applying strict genetic resource conservation policies.