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Journal of Botanic Gardens Conservation International
Volume 9 • Number 1 • January 2012
Botanic gardens -
science, innovation and
pushing boundaries
Volume 9 • Number 1 EDITORIAL SARA OLDFIELD 02 18
EXCITING HORTICULTURAL
EDITORS CHALLENGES AT THE OMAN
BOTANIC GARDEN
IAN OLIVER, KHALID AL-FARSI,
ABDULLAH AL-HOSNI, SALIM
AL-MAKMARI, SARAH KNEEBONE
03
PLANTS FOR THE FUTURE –
Suzanne Sharrock Sara Oldfield A FUTURE FOR OUR PLANET
Director of Global Secretary General
Programmes TOWARDS A PROTOCOL FOR
GENETIC MANAGEMENT OF EX
Cover Photo: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (BGCI)
Design: John Morgan, Seascape
SITU LIVING PLANT COLLECTIONS 21
STÉPHANIE SAMAIN &
www.seascapedesign.co.uk
EDUARDO CIRES THE ASSISTED MIGRATION
DEBATE – BOTANIC GARDENS
TO THE RESCUE?
BGjournal is published by Botanic Gardens Conservation
MARIA HÄLLFORS, ELINA VAARA &
International (BGCI). It is published twice a year and is sent SUSANNA LEHVÄVIRTA
to all BGCI members. Membership is open to all interested
individuals, institutions and organisations that support the
aims of BGCI (see inside back cover for Membership
application form).
Further details available from:
• Botanic Gardens Conservation International, Descanso
House, 199 Kew Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3BW
UK. Tel: +44 (0)20 8332 5953, Fax: +44 (0)20 8332 5956
E-mail: info@bgci.org, www.bgci.org
07
• BGCI-Russia, c/o Main Botanical Gardens,
Botanicheskaya st., 4, Moscow 127276, Russia.
BARCODE WALES: DNA
Tel: +7 (095) 219 6160 / 5377, Fax: +7 (095) 218 0525, BARCODING THE NATION’S 25
E-mail: seed@aha.ru, www.bgci.ru
NATIVE FLOWERING PLANTS AND
• BGCI-Netherlands, c/o Delft University of Technology
Julianalaan 67, NL-2628 BC Delft, Netherlands
CONIFERS NATASHA DE VERE DREAMING OF SHEEP-EATING
Tel: +31 15 278 4714 Fax: +31 15 278 2355 PLANTS MATTHEW JEBB
E-mail: l.j.w.vandenwollenberg@tudelft.nl
www.botanischetuin.tudelft.nl
• BGCI-Canarias, c/o Jardín Botánico Canario Viera y Clavijo,
Apartado de Correos 14, Tafira Alta 35017,
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Gran Canaria, Spain.
Tel: +34 928 21 95 80/82/83, Fax: +34 928 21 95 81,
E-mail: jmlopez@grancanaria.es
• BGCI-China, 723 Xingke Rd., Guangzhou 510650 China.
Tel:(86)20-37252692. email: Xiangying.Wen@bgci.org
www.bgci.org/china
• BGCI-Colombia, c/o Jardín Botánico de Bogotá, 11
Jose Celestino Mutis, Av. No. 61-13 – A.A. 59887,
Santa Fe de Bogotá, D.C., Colombia. Tel: +57 630 0949,
Fax: +57 630 5075, E-mail: jardin@gaitana.interred.net.co, GeoCAT - AN OPEN SOURCE 28
www.humboldt.org.co/jardinesdecolombia/html/la_red.htm TOOL FOR RAPID RED LIST
• BGCI(US) Inc, c/o Chicago Botanic Garden, ASSESSMENTS GROWING THE SOCIAL ROLE OF
1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, Illinois 60022, USA.
E-mail: usa@bgci.org, www.bgci.org/usa STEVEN BACHMAN & JUSTIN MOAT BOTANIC GARDENS BGCI
BGCI is a worldwide membership organisation established in
1987. Its mission is to mobilise botanic gardens and engage
partners in securing plant diversity for the well-being of
people and the planet. BGCI is an independent organisation
registered in the United Kingdom as a charity (Charity Reg No
1098834) and a company limited by guarantee, No 4673175.
BGCI is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit organisation in the
USA and is a registered non-profit organisation in Russia.
Opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily
reflect the views of the Boards or staff of BGCI or of its
members
14 32
FROM FREEZING TO THE FIELD— SAFEGUARDING AUSTRALIA’S
IN VITRO METHODS ASSISTING FLORA THROUGH THE
PLANT CONSERVATION AUSTRALIAN SEED BANK
VALERIE PENCE PARTNERSHIP LUCY SUTHERLAND
01 BGCI • 2012 • BGjournal • Vol 9 (1)
EDITORIAL
CELEBRATING INNOVATION
IN BOTANIC GARDENS
he study and cultivation of plant botanic gardens that will be launched in
T diversity by botanic gardens is
firmly rooted in the past but
innovative new approaches look to the
May this year with an ambitious action
plan to restore 100 priority sites around
the world. This scheme is a response to
future. Advances in science and the urgent need to prevent the further
technology are providing new loss of ecosystem services and to
opportunities to understand plant support international biodiversity policy
diversity and develop solutions to objective. Availability of appropriate
current environmental problems. This plant material is one of the prerequisites
issue of BGjournal celebrates innovation for meeting this objective. Botanic
in botanic gardens – pushing the gardens collectively hold around one
boundaries of scientific knowledge and third of all plant species and thus
its practical application. It also considers provide a vital store for restoration.
the engagement of gardens with their The Australian Seed Bank Partnership
visitors to share the science and make described by Sutherland is an exciting
environmental knowledge more new approach strengthening Australia’s
accessible and relevant to wider capacity to restore and connect
audiences. landscapes and ecosystems through
seed-based restoration. The paper by
Scientific research has been an Samain and Cires provides an example
important component of the work in of how material in collections can be
botanic gardens for over 500 years. evaluated to show its appropriateness
Documented plant collections continue for restoration in the wild. The authors
to provide living laboratories and models remind us that to be of conservation
of ecological interactions. From value, living collections must be
observation of whole plants to genetic genetically representative and they
and DNA analysis new techniques are describe the first comprehensive study grow all the native species of Oman is
enabling deeper understanding of the of three plant groups sampled in the wild described by Oliver, Al-Farsi, Al-Hosni,
plants in collections that have important and in living collections. Al-Makmari and Kneebone.
implications for management of diversity
in the wild. The application of new Restoration needs to take into account I hope you enjoy the richness of ideas
techniques for identifying plant species changing climatic conditions and the presented in this issue of BGjournal!
is described by de Vere; for somewhat controversial question of BGCI will strive to share the best of
documenting their conservation status assisted migration is tackled by Hallfors, botanic garden innovations, and at times
by Bachman and Moat, for conserving Vaara and Lehvavirta in their article that provocative, ideas. Please let us know
in vitro by Valerie Pence and highlights the responsibility, skills and your thoughts and ideas for future
communicating with the public by opportunities that botanic gardens have debate as we collectively secure planet
Matthew Jebb. in this emerging field. diversity for people and the planet.
The ex situ collections of plant material The creation of new botanic gardens
and expertise within botanic gardens are allows the opportunity for research to
increasingly being used to support be fully integrated with garden design,
species reintroduction and ecological management of living collections,
restoration programmes. BGCI is education and training from the outset.
currently involved in the development of Exciting progress is the development of Sara Oldfield
the Ecological Restoration Alliance of the Oman Botanic Garden that aims to Secretary General, BGCI
02 BGCI • 2012 • BGjournal • Vol 9 (1) • 02
Authors: Stéphanie Samain and Eduardo Cires
PLANTS FOR THE FUTURE –
A FUTURE FOR OUR PLANET
TOWARDS A PROTOCOL FOR GENETIC MANAGEMENT
OF EX SITU LIVING PLANT COLLECTIONS
There is an urgent need for worldwide assessment of Introduction
genetic diversity of ex situ living plant collections and t is estimated that one third of all plant
comparison with wild populations, especially for I species are threatened with extinction
and yet plants continue to be
underrepresented in conservation
threatened species. The Botanical Garden of Ghent debates and policies. However, global
initiatives, such as the Global Strategy
University, Belgium is addressing this need. for Plant Conservation (GSPC) are
aiming to bring a significant change. As
stated in Target 8 of the GSPC, at least
75% of threatened plant species should
be present in ex situ collections.
Botanical gardens play a key role in
conservation of plant diversity, but only
about 30% of globally threatened plant
species are currently held in their living
collections (Oldfield, 2010). To be of
conservation value, living collections
must be genetically representative.
Although information on genetic diversity
in ex situ collections is scarce, it is
thought that diversity is low in
collections of numerous species.
Moreover, besides the many studies and
initiatives for specific taxa, our
knowledge about the genetic diversity of
threatened plant species in general is
quite limited. This lack of insight into
genetic diversity of threatened wild plant
species contrasts with the broad
knowledge about crops and their wild
relatives. This fact is also reflected by
GSPC Target 9, which specifically states
that 70% of the genetic diversity of
crops, including their wild relatives and
other socio-economically valuable plant
species, should be conserved. We still
have a long way to go to understanding
genetic diversity in threatened plants,
conserving an important part of this
diversity in ex situ collections, defining
which percentage of genetic diversity
Esteban Martínez climbing a tree to collect a newly discovered Hydrangea species on the volcano Tacaná in might be feasible and/or desirable to aim
Chiapas state in southeast Mexico near the border with Guatemala. Stems with leaves of this species are for, and finally making this available for
visible on all the trunks (Marie-Stéphanie Samain). conservation and restoration projects.
03 BGCI • 2012 • BGjournal • Vol 9 (1) • 03-06
Angiosperm groups with different life
histories and growth forms. A range of
genomic tools will be applied to wild and
ex situ individuals of selected species of
the flagship groups Hydrangea, Magnolia
and Cactaceae to enable rapid
characterization of genetic variation,
providing 1) support for specific
conservation actions, and 2) general
guidelines and a protocol on genetic
management for acquiring accessions for
ex situ collections, in order to be used by
collectors and botanical gardens
worldwide in the framework of the
achievement of Target 8 of the GSPC.
Sampling and lab work
A happy team of botanists and local children after discovering a new Hydrangea species on the volcano The three plant groups being studied are
Tacaná in Chiapas state in southeast Mexico near the border with Guatemala (Paco Najarro). considered as priority groups for BGCI,
the IUCN/SSC Global Trees Specialist
Setting the stage habitat destruction narrowing genetic Group and the International Organization
diversity and subsequent evolution for Succulent Plant Study (IOS), with
The GSPC 2011-2020 states that: (= genetic erosion), 2) collection bias whom we cooperate. These groups are
(‘easy’ localities, selection of rather well-studied taxonomically and
morphological variation which is not are also very important in the
“ Without plants there is no
life. The functioning of the
planet, and our survival, depends
necessarily reflected by genetic variation),
3) cultivation bottleneck (accessions
dying because of unsuitable conditions).
horticultural trade, with especially
Cactaceae also suffering from illegal
harvest and trade. Despite the fact that
Hence, the establishment of a protocol these groups are a priority for
upon plants.
”
Achieving Target 8 of the GSPC depends
on the existence of genetically
guiding genetic management during the
different steps (wild population – ex situ
collection – reintroduction) is essential for
implementation of Target 8 of the GSPC
conservation, the genetic diversity within
ex situ collections is almost entirely
unknown, and has not been compared
with wild populations. There is clearly an
representative collections, and these are and, ultimately, for safeguarding the urgent need for this research.
essential for recovery and restoration future of our planet.
work. Our focus should therefore be on
assessing and ensuring the conservation Towards an assessment for
value of ex situ collections (Sharrock et flagship groups: Hydrangea,
al., 2010). Magnolia and Cactaceae
Assessments of a representative sample The Botanical Garden and the Research
of plant species will provide a basis for Group Spermatophytes of Ghent
an initial estimation of a baseline, and to University (Belgium) are increasingly
monitor progress towards this target. involved in conservation of the plant
Therefore, toolkits under this target need groups which are housed in their living
to include protocols for genetic collections and studied in ongoing
management of ex situ collections and projects, such as Peperomia (Samain et
consequent reintroductions. al., 2010), Hydrangea (Red List project in
cooperation with BGCI, including a
One of the suggested milestones to serve specific conservation project in Mexico),
as a step towards the 2020 target is that and Aristolochia (Rivera Hernández &
ex situ collections of all critically Samain, 2011). Our strategy, to combine
endangered species should be fundamental botanical research with
genetically representative of the species conservational efforts, has also led to the
(SBSTTA, 2010). However, preliminary establishment of a project, initiated in
observations and data suggest that this 2011, which will be continued and
currently is not the case in many accelerated thanks to the support of the
collections, as the genetic diversity from Fondation Franklinia. Within this project
wild population to ex situ collections we aim to compare genetic diversity
‘gradually’ decreases (= genetic between wild populations and ex situ Collecting Hydrangea aspera with local botany students
bottleneck) as a consequence of 1) collections of three unrelated on mountain Taiping Shan, Taiwan ( Eduardo Cires).
04 BGCI • 2012 • BGjournal • Vol 9 (1)
Characteristic RFLP Microsatellite AFLP ISSR PCR sequencing
Genomic abundance High Medium Very high Medium Very high
Part of genome surveyed Low copy coding regions Whole genome Whole genome Whole genome Whole genome
Amount of DNA required High Low Medium Low Low
Type of polymorphism Single base changes, Changes in length Single base changes, Single base changes, Single base changes,
insertion, deletion of repeats insertion, deletion insertion, deletion insertion, deletion
Level of polymorphism Medium High Very high High Very high
Inheritance Codominant Codominant Dominant Dominant –
Ease of use Labour intensive Easy Difficult initially Easy Easy
Automation possible Low High Medium Medium High
Cost of automation High High High Medium High
Development costs Medium High Low Low High
Reproducibility (reliability) High High High Medium to high High
Level of training required Low Low/Medium Medium Low High
Cloning and/or sequencing Yes Yes No No Yes
Radioactive detection Yes/No Yes/No Yes/No No Yes/No
Proprietary rights status No No (some licensed) Licensed Licensed No (some licensed)
Table 1. Comparative assessment of some of the salient characteristics of different molecular genetic screening techniques: RFLP (or Restriction fragment length polymorphism),
Microsatellites or simple sequence repeats (SSRs), AFLP (or Amplified fragment length polymorphism), ISSR (or Inter Simple Sequence Repeat) and PCR sequencing.
“ Around one-third of the much reduced, but we believe it is not Field work has already been or will be
useful to include samples without performed in countries and areas where
globally threatened species that documented origin, as their value, for the Research Group has extensive field
are found in botanic garden example in reintroduction projects, is experience and local cooperation
highly doubtful. Additionally, Magnolia partners (Latin America and East Asia).
collections are recorded in only and Hydrangea individuals are plants Within the wild populations, a
”
one collection. with life spans of several hundred years, representative sample of individuals will
predating fragmentation events, so we be collected, meanwhile in the ex situ
will obtain reliable genetic information collections we aim to include an equal
Global and/or local Red Lists are that may help genetic restoration number of accessions from as many
available for each group (Magnolia: projects (e.g. López et al., 2008). gardens as possible. In addition, our
Cicuzza et al., 2007; Cactaceae: e.g. work on Hydrangea will also help to build
IUCN, 2011) or are being prepared Availability in botanical garden collections new living collections, e.g. in Mexico,
(Hydrangea s.l.). These groups represent has been checked via the PlantSearch supported by the Mohamed Bin Zayed
different unrelated families of module on the BGCI website Species Conservation Fund.
Angiosperms, with different habitat (http://www.bgci.org/plant_search.php) or Molecular tools provide valuable data on
preferences and a range of life history via direct and ongoing communication diversity through their ability to detect
traits. Within each group, taxa are with gardens. A final selection criterion is variation at the DNA level. Identification
selected based on: 1) presence in a that most of the species are ‘Vulnerable’, is of fundamental importance in diversity
representative number of public and ‘Endangered’ or ‘Critically Endangered’ studies in a variety of different ways. For
accessible private ex situ collections according to IUCN Red List categories evaluation of species diversity, it is
(botanical gardens, arboreta, etc.), 2) and criteria, hence they are priority essential that individuals can be
well-documented origin of the species for conservation and for use in classified accurately. The identification of
accessions, and 3) availability of material recovery and restoration work. taxonomic units and endangered
verified by specialists. Because of the Furthermore, the genetic diversity of these species, whose genetic constitution is
second criterion, the quantity of useful rare species will be compared with some distinct from their more abundant
accessions available for the research is more common or widespread species. relatives, is important in the
development of appropriate
conservation strategies. Taking
advantage of current molecular
techniques, relatively quick assessments
Try another molecular Did we detect enough Can we divide the population of genetic diversity in plants can be
No Yes
marker and/or primers genetic variability? into k independent groups performed using well-sampled material
a priori?
and ready-made protocols, as long as
the most limiting factor, funding, is
Yes available. For each flagship species,
No
Flow chart representing the different molecular techniques (e.g.
main strategies to assess RFLP, microsatellites, AFLP, ISSR, PCR
the genetic diversity in the Are these groups sequencing) are currently being tested
Yes consistent with the No
flagship groups studied. Reinforcing the sampling and/or developed, with comparisons of
genetic parameters?
cost versus data yielded, ease of use,
Asian populations and applicability for conservation
American populations
Identification of priority Choose those n
populations to be ex situ populations which best
conserved represent each group BGCI • 2012 • BGjournal • Vol 9 (1)
research (Table 1). For the elaboration of conserved), 4) indication of the number
these techniques, either in-house of samples that needs to be collected in
experience has been developed or the wild to obtain a genetically
collaboration with experienced research representative collection, 5) testing the
groups has been set up. hypothesis that endangered species with
narrow distribution are genetically
Outlook – Connecting the dots limited, 6) conservation of flagship
species, and finally, 7) reports and
To our knowledge, this is the first publications in cooperation with e.g.
comprehensive study of this kind, with a BGCI, the IUCN/SSC Global Trees
constant evaluation of the different Specialist Group and the IOS.
techniques, in order to assess the Last but not least, it has already become
progress of the project (see Figure 1). clear during this pilot year 2011 that this Marie-Stéphanie Samain preparing herbarium
The expected results can be subdivided study will lead to further international specimens of a new Hydrangea species of Los
in two levels: i) specific results for each cooperation with many interested Tuxtlas, state of Veracruz, Mexico (Esteban Martínez).
group: they will provide insight into gardens and researchers.
genetic diversity and history, providing a , López, D.M., Bock, B.C. and Bedoya,
basis for further conservation work; ii) G. 2008. Genetic structure in remnant
comparison of different unrelated groups
with different life histories and growth
forms: this approach will lead to a
“ We expect to form a
scientific network studying
genetic diversity in plants for
populations of an endangered Andean
Magnolia. Biotropica 40: 375-379.
general overview of the genetic diversity , Oldfield, S. 2010. Plant conservation:
available in wild populations and ex situ conservation purposes under the facing tough choices. Bioscience 30:
collections, as well as of the specific 778-779.
problems involved with decreasing
genetic diversity from the wild to the
collection, information which will be
auspices of BGCI.
”
Please feel free to contact us if you
, Rivera Hernández, J.E. and Samain,
M.S. 2011. Where has Aristolochia
extremely useful for implementation of would like to cooperate, exchange tricaudata (Aristolochiaceae) gone?
Target 8 of the GSPC. experiences, or if you have comments New record of a critically endangered
or questions. species in Oaxaca, Mexico. Revista
Some important specific outcomes are Mexicana de Biodiversidad 82: 281-
listed here: 1) assessment of percentage References 286.
of genetic diversity present in ex situ
collections worldwide for the three plant , Cicuzza, D., Newton, A. and Oldfield, , Samain, M.S., Dugardin, C. and
groups under study, 2) identification of S. 2007. The red list of Magnoliaceae. Goetghebeur, P. 2010. Peperomia
priority populations for ex situ Fauna & Flora International. reference collection: an ex situ living
conservation, 3) definition of a Cambridge, UK. plant collection for scientific research.
genetically representative collection Proceedings of the 4th Global Botanic
(compared to Target 9 of the GSPC , IUCN, 2011. IUCN red list of Gardens Congress, June 2010.
stating that 70% of the genetic diversity threatened species.
of crops and other socio-economical http://www.iucnredlist.org/ (Accessed , SBSTTA, 2010. Progress in the
valuable plant species should be January 2012). implementation of Global Strategy for
Plant Conservation and development
of a consolidated update beyond
2010. UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/14/INF/16.
, Sharrock, S., Hird, A., Kramer, A. and
Oldfield, S. (Comp.) 2010. Saving
plants, saving the planet: Botanic
Gardens and the implementation of
GSPC Target 8. BGCI, Richmond, UK.
Marie-Stéphanie Samain and
Eduardo Cires
Ghent University
Research Group
Spermatophytes & Botanical
Garden
K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35
B-9000 Gent
E-mail: MarieStephanie.Samain
Mountain Wawu Shan, Sichuan, China, location of several Hydrangea specimens (Eduardo Cires). @UGent.be
06 BGCI • 2012 • BGjournal • Vol 9 (1)
Author: Natasha de Vere
BARCODE WALES:
DNA BARCODING THE NATION’S NATIVE
FLOWERING PLANTS AND CONIFERS
DNA-based identification systems can help to
identify and monitor species and provide a
platform for a wide range of applications where
accurate species identification is required.
DNA-barcoding at the NBGW laboratory.
he ability to identify plant species Correct identification is also vital in order DNA barcoding uses short sections of DNA
T is fundamental to our
understanding of the world around
us. To conserve plants, their habitats and
for us to use plants for food, medicine or
materials. Identification of plants often
relies on morphological examination, but
to act as a unique identifier for species. The
aim of DNA barcoding is to have global
agreement on the regions of DNA and
ecosystems we need to be able to around the world there is a shortage of protocols used for different groups of living
identify and monitor species. taxonomic experts able to identify things in order to create an international
species. Beyond this, it is often desirable resource for species identification. To begin
to be able to identify species from with, reference DNA databases are
“ Objective 1 of the Global
Strategy for Plant Conservation
is that: “plant diversity is well
material where morphological
approaches are difficult or impossible to
use; for example, from pollen, roots,
developed using species identified by a
taxonomic expert; unknown DNA
sequences can then be compared to these
seeds, or fragments of tissue. In these to make an identification. Open Science is
understood, documented and situations DNA-based identification key, DNA barcodes, their associated
systems can be used and in 2003 Paul information and protocols for their
recognized.
” Hebert coined the term ‘DNA barcoding’
(Hebert et al., 2003).
development should be available to
everyone, from researchers, regulatory
authorities to the general public.
07 BGCI • 2012 • BGjournal • Vol 9 (1) • 07-10
barcodes need to have access to this
information, along with a scan of the
herbarium voucher. Where fresh material
is collected for DNA barcoding an
associated herbarium voucher must
always be made. The only exception to
this is for endangered species where
creating a voucher is not possible on
conservation grounds; in this case a
photograph is used instead. We also
need to DNA barcode more than one
specimen for each species to allow for
errors and any variation between
individuals within the species. The level
of variation within the species should be
low however, as the idea behind DNA
barcoding is to use regions of DNA that
Tephroseris integrifolia ssp. maritima. differ between species but which are the
same within a species. For our Barcode
There are now initiatives throughout the bryophytes and at the National Botanic Wales project we aim to DNA barcode at
world for DNA barcoding species from all Garden of Wales, we are DNA barcoding least three samples for each species
of the kingdoms of life, such as the the native flowering plants and conifers using the DNA barcode markers rbcL
International Barcode of Life initiative of Wales, with our partners at the and matK.
(IBOL), which works across 25 countries National Museum Wales (Hollingsworth
and aims to DNA barcode 5 million et al., 2011). Over the last three years we have
specimens from 500,000 species within sampled 4,272 plant specimens, 3,637
five years. The Consortium of the from the National Museum Wales
Barcode of Life (CBOL) is devoted to
promoting DNA barcoding as a global
standard for DNA-based species
“ Botanic gardens are
increasingly using DNA barcoding
as an identification tool for plants
herbarium (NMW) and 635 freshly
collected from throughout Wales. We
have 5,723 DNA barcodes, 3,304 for
identification and the Barcode of Life rbcL and 2,419 for matK. Of the 1,143
Data System (BOLD) provides a key
repository for DNA barcodes and their
associated data (Ratnasingham and
Hebert, 2007). In 2009, the Plant Working
in their collections.
Barcode Wales
” species of Wales we have DNA
barcoded 98% using rbcL and 90% with
rbcL and matK. Our first scientific
publication describing our results and
Group of CBOL proposed two sections of Wales has 1,143 native and protocols will be available soon (de Vere
genes within the chloroplast genome, archaeophyte (species introduced before et al., in press) and all of our DNA
rbcL and matK, for plant DNA barcoding, 1500 AD) flowering plants and conifers, barcodes, along with their associated
with the suggestion that more markers found within 455 genera, 95 families and collection information and scans of their
may be required (CBOL Plant Working 34 orders. In order to create a reference herbarium vouchers will be accessible
Group, 2009). In December 2011 the database of DNA barcodes for these, it shortly on the Barcode of Life Data
nuclear gene ITS was announced as the is vital to start with correctly identified System in the Plants of Wales project.
official barcode for fungi during the 4th source material. Taxonomist, Dr Tim
International Barcode of Life Conference Rich, from the National Museum Wales is
in Adelaide, Australia. responsible for checking every species
that we DNA barcode. We have
Projects are now underway to DNA concentrated on using herbarium
barcode the world's plant species. For specimens for DNA barcoding. The
example, the New York Botanic Garden herbaria of the world provide an
is DNA barcoding the world's trees, incredibly valuable resource of plant
whilst the Universities of Adelaide and species that have been collected and
British Columbia are working on grasses. identified by expert taxonomists. We
Some projects are concentrating on have developed special protocols for
floristic regions: Korea University is extracting DNA from herbarium
working on the flora of Korea, the specimens to make full use of this
University of Johannesburg on the flora resource.
of the Kruger National Park, the
Smithsonian Institute on tropical forestry For the resulting DNA barcodes to be of
plots and institutions throughout China most use, it is very important that along
are working together to DNA barcode with the DNA sequence there is a full
their flora. The Royal Botanic Garden record of when, where and by whom the
Edinburgh is DNA barcoding British plant was collected. All users of the DNA The herbarium at the National Museum of Wales.
08 BGCI • 2012 • BGjournal • Vol 9 (1)
The Barcode Wales project provides a al., 2011). DNA sequences obtained for Many of our applications use ‘next
valuable resource for researchers wanting DNA barcoding have also been used to generation’ DNA sequencing as this
to identify species using DNA-based create phylogenetic trees for allows us to analyse samples containing
approaches. Our DNA barcodes for Wales phylogenetic community ecology mixtures of plant species. Our PhD
also provide a stock of barcodes that can research (Kress et al., 2009). student, Hannah Garbett, co-supervised
be incorporated into other projects. The by Dr Tatiana Tatarinova (Glamorgan
1,143 species of Wales represents 77% of At the National Botanic Garden of Wales University) is developing bioinformatic
the native flowering plants of the UK. We we have started to develop applications tools that will help to analyse these large
have just begun DNA barcoding the rest that use our DNA barcodes for Wales in and complicated datasets. As well as
of the UK flora, working with the Royal collaboration with partners around the using our DNA barcodes for species
Botanic Garden Edinburgh. world. We have worked with Dr Sandra identification we are working with Prof.
Ronca (Aberystwyth University) and Prof. Pete Hollingsworth (Royal Botanic
Mike Wilkinson (University of Adelaide) Garden Edinburgh) to create the first
“ Once the native flora of the
UK is complete we will begin on
to track the movements of pollinators in
threatened habitats by DNA barcoding
pollen found on their bodies. We are
complete national phylogeny of the
flowering plants of the UK.
the non-native species.
Applications
” working with Dr Joel Allainguillaume
(University of the West of England) to
use DNA barcoding to carry out
Public engagement
DNA barcoding is not only a resource for
ecological surveys and Dr Neil Loader scientists; it is also an excellent way to
The range of applications using plant (Swansea University) on reconstructing engage people with their native flora and
DNA barcoding is as broad as our landscapes from plant remains in peat plant sciences research. At the National
imaginations, with some great cores. We are also using our DNA Botanic Garden of Wales we are
applications already being developed. barcodes for human health in a project particularly interested in projects that link
Ecological applications include with Jenny Hawkins and Prof. Les Baillie arts and science. We have worked with
understanding below-ground biodiversity of the Welsh School of Pharmacy (Cardiff botanical artist, Emma Tuck, on a
by DNA barcoding roots (Kesanakurti et University). For her PhD research, Jenny contemporary art exhibition and
al., 2011), reconstructing past is collecting honey samples from community artist, Pod Clare, on a
landscapes using plant remains throughout the UK and testing their Barcode Wales mosaic created by
(Sonstebo et al., 2010) and identifying ability to fight the hospital infections community groups from throughout
invasive species (Bleeker et al., 2008). MRSA and Clostridium difficile. She will Wales. We are currently working with
DNA barcoding has been used to verify then DNA barcode the honey to find out Prof. Andrea Liggins (Swansea
the contents of plant products including what plant species the bees visited to University) on a photographic exhibition
medicinal plants (Chen et al., 2010), make it. We hope to use this to pinpoint to be shown in botanic gardens and
berries (Jaakola et al., 2010), olive oil active phytochemicals donated by the universities throughout China on native
(Kumar et al., 2011), tea (Stoeckle et al., plant species that contribute to the Welsh plants and their DNA barcodes.
2011) and kitchen spices (De Mattia et honey’s anti-microbial properties.
Collecting specimens for DNA barcoding.
09 BGCI • 2012 • BGjournal • Vol 9 (1)Barcode Wales is also a mechanism for
training the next generation of plant
scientists. The workforce assembling the
DNA barcodes for the Barcode Wales
and Barcode UK projects are
undergraduate students who spend a
year at the Garden as part of their
degree. Their work is supplemented with
work experience students from A-level to
postgraduate who spend from two
weeks to a few months at the Garden.
The Barcode Wales project provides the Emma Tuck’s Decode exhibition at NBGW.
most complete coverage of DNA
barcodes of any national flora, offering a and Wilkinson, M.J. (in press) DNA Proceedings of the National Academy
platform for a wide range of applications barcoding the native flowering plants of Sciences of the United States of
where accurate species identification is and conifers of Wales. Plos One. America 106: 18621-18626.
required. It also provides a hub for multi-
disciplinary research across the arts, , Hebert, P.D.N., Cywinska, A., Ball, , Kumar, S., Kahlon, T., and Chaudhary,
sciences and social sciences and a S.L., and DeWaard, J.R. 2003. S. 2011. A rapid screening for
vehicle for training plant science Biological identifications through DNA adulterants in olive oil using DNA
students and volunteers. The DNA barcodes. Proceedings of the Royal barcodes. Food Chemistry 127: 1335-
barcodes and their associated Society of London Series B-Biological 1341.
information are Open Access to make a Sciences 270: 313-321.
resource available to everyone. , Ratnasingham, S., and Hebert, P.D.N.
, Hollingsworth, P.M., Graham, S.W., 2007. BOLD: The Barcode of Life Data
References and Little, D.P. 2011. Choosing and System (www.barcodinglife.org).
Using a Plant DNA Barcode. Plos One Molecular Ecology Notes 7: 355-364.
, Bleeker, W., Klausmeyer, S., 6: e19254.
Peintinger, M., and Dienst, M. 2008. , Sonstebo, J.H., Gielly, L., Brysting, A.K.,
DNA sequences identify invasive alien , Jaakola, L., Suokas, M., and Elven, R., Edwards, M., Haile, J.,
Cardamine at Lake Constance. Haggman, H. 2010. Novel approaches Willerslev, E., Coissac, E., Rioux, D.,
Biological Conservation 141: 692-698. based on DNA barcoding and high- Sannier, J., Taberlet, P., and Brochmann,
resolution melting of amplicons for C. 2010. Using next-generation
, CBOL Plant Working Group. 2009. authenticity analyses of berry species. sequencing for molecular reconstruction
A DNA barcode for land plants. Food Chemistry 123: 494-500. of past Arctic vegetation and climate.
Proceedings of the National Academy Molecular Ecology Resources 10: 1009-
of Sciences of the United States of , Kesanakurti, P.R., Fazekas, A.J., 1018.
America 106: 12794-12797. Burgess, K.S., Percy, D.M.,
Newmaster, S.G., Graham, S.W., , Stoeckle, M.Y., Gamble, C.C., Kirpekar,
, Chen, S., Yao, H., Han, J., Liu, C., Barrett, S.C.H., Hajibabaei, M., and R., Young, G., Ahmed, S., and Little, D.P.
Song, J., Shi, L., Zhu, Y., Ma, X., Gao, Husband, B.C. 2011. Spatial patterns 2011. Commercial Teas Highlight Plant
T., Pang, X., Luo, K., Li, Y., Li, X., Jia, of plant diversity below-ground as DNA Barcode Identification Successes
X., Lin, Y., and Leon, C. 2010. revealed by DNA barcoding. Molecular and Obstacles. Sci. Rep. 1: 42.
Validation of the ITS2 Region as a Ecology 20: 1289-1302.
Novel DNA Barcode for Identifying Natasha de Vere
Medicinal Plant Species. Plos One 5: , Kress, W.J., Erickson, D.L., Andrew National Botanic Garden
e8613. Jones, F., Swenson, N.G., Perez, R., of Wales
Sanjur, O., and Bermingham, E. 2009. Llanarthne, Carmarthenshire,
, De Mattia, F., Bruni, I., Galimberti, A., Plant DNA barcodes and a community SA32 8HG, UK
Cattaneo, F., Casiraghi, M., and Labra, phylogeny of a tropical forest Email: ndevere@gardenofwales.
M. 2011. A comparative study of dynamics plot in Panama. org.uk
different DNA barcoding markers for
the identification of some members of
Lamiacaea. Food Research Further information
International 44: 693-702. National Botanic Garden of Wales
http://www.gardenofwales.org.uk/science/barcode-wales/
, de Vere, N., Rich, T.C.G., Ford, C.R., Consortium for the Barcode of Life http://www.barcodeoflife.org/
Trinder, S.A., Long, C., Moore, C.W., International Barcode of Life Initiative http://ibol.org/
Satterthwaite, D., Davies, H., Barcode of Life Data System http://www.boldsystems.org
Allainguillaume, J., Ronca, S., 4th International Barcode of Life Conference http://www.dnabarcodes2011.org
Tatarinova, T., Garbett, H., Walker, K.
10 BGCI • 2012 • BGjournal • Vol 9 (1)Authors: Steven Bachman and Justin Moat
GeoCAT -
AN OPEN SOURCE TOOL FOR RAPID
RED LIST ASSESSMENTS
The combination of botanical collection data
and the latest web mapping technology is
providing better tools to support the work
of conservation scientists. The Royal
Botanic Gardens, Kew have developed
GeoCAT – the Geospatial Conservation
Assessment Tool - to help ease and
speed up the process of Red List
assessment for plants.
Plants and the Red List There are as many as 380,000
species of plants presently known and
he IUCN Red List is well known to around a thousand new species are
T many as the most authoritative
source of information on extinction
risk for the world’s organisms. The annual
described as new to science every year1.
There are more species in a single family
of plants such as grasses (Poaceae) than
release highlights the familiar creatures:
the polar bear, the orang-utan, the rhino,
the gorilla - the celebrity species of the
there are all known mammals (5,488). With
that in mind it is no wonder that so far
only around 4% of the world’s flora have
“ Only around 4% of the
world’s plants have been
assessed for their conservation
conservation world. And each year we are been assigned a category of threat on the
reminded again that many species are
slipping toward extinction, usually as a
result of pressures from human activities.
global Red List. Although significant
activity on Red Listing for plants is taking
place around the world, often in botanic
status at the global level.
”
resources into practical conservation
But when was the last time you remember gardens, the sheer scale of the task is effort if we don’t know where or what to
a species of plant being mentioned? All daunting. focus on? The good news is that
too often plants fall under the radar when progress is being made. Not only is raw
it comes to the Red List, although they are Despite attempts from the botanical information on plants becoming
being assessed and they are as community to accelerate the production increasingly available through data
threatened as the ‘better known’ groups of Red List assessments, such as the sharing platforms such as the Global
such as mammals (see the Sampled Red ambitious Target 2 of the Global Strategy Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF),
List Index – Plants Under Pressure a for Plant Conservation2 ‘an assessment but automated and semi-automated
global assessment 2010). So why is there of conservation status of all known plant tools are now available to allow
such a shortfall? The sheer number of species’ we are still falling short. The scientists and experts to harness that
species, in comparison to the number of implications of this are very significant. data to answer important questions like
available scientists, is the main problem. How can we even begin to focus our – how endangered is my species?
11 1 http://www.ipni.org/stats.html BGCI • 2012 • BGjournal • Vol 9 (1) • 11-13
2 http://www.plants2020.net/gspc-targets/With these powerful analytic tools we
can more rapidly assess species and
more effectively prioritise conservation
action. With the development of tools
such as GeoCAT, the target of assessing
all species may just become more
achievable.
Introducing GeoCAT
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew has
long been associated with the Red List
process, being key players in the
development of the original Red Data
books of endangered plants and
continuing with major contributions of
plant assessments to the present day
Red List. The Geographical Information
Systems (GIS) Unit at Kew has a more Screenshot from GeoCAT – illustrating multiple data sources, and the metadata window allowing you to view
specific interest in the application of GIS the underlying data for each point.
techniques for Red List assessment, in
particular the geographic components of GeoCAT is a rapid assessment tool that Geographic range measures
an assessment. Innovations within the utilises primary plant occurrence data to used in the Red List
field of GIS over the last few decades produce measurements relating to the
have allowed for the first time the geographic range of a species. These One aspect of Red Listing that has been
production of tools to aid Red List are then compared with the IUCN Red particularly challenging so far is the
assessment such as the CAT List categories and criteria and provide calculation of geospatial measurements
(Conservation Assessment Tools) evidence to support a full Red List included in the criteria – in other words
project3. Released in 2007, CAT is an assessment. It is important to note that it criteria related to the geography of a
extension to the ArcView GIS software is an expert driven system i.e. it is species. Geospatial aspects of the Red
system and allows automatic calculation assumed that the user of the tool has List criteria mostly relate to Criterion B -
of measures used in Red List good knowledge of the species being Geographic Range, but also appear as
assessment. With the recent explosion of assessed as well as a thorough elements throughout the other
web mapping innovations such as understanding of the Red List categories categories A – D. Two different measures
Google Earth and Google Maps it was and criteria (IUCN 2001). of geographic range: extent of
clear that these conservation tools
needed to be brought into this new era,
which led to the development of GeoCAT.
GeoCAT (accessible at this URL:
http://geocat.kew.org/) is a web based tool
developed through a collaboration of the Royal
Botanic Gardens, Kew, IUCN and ViBRANT that
supports the Red Listing process. If you want a
quick way to find out more you can watch the video
here: http://vimeo.com/22739331.
The GeoCAT home page - http://geocat.kew.org/.
Screenshot of extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) analysis. When the analysis is
enabled the results are displayed showing area in km2 and corresponding Red List category.
3 http://www.kew.org/science-research-data/kew-in-
12 depth/gis/resources-and-publications/tools/cat/
BGCI • 2012 • BGjournal • Vol 9 (1)occurrence (EOO) and area of • Upload your own data - where assessment. Perhaps then we will see
occupancy (AOO) are used in the Red occurrence data has already been plants in the spotlight for the next edition
List criteria. Extent of occurrence (EOO) gathered, for example, in a specimen of the Red List.
is a measure of the geographic range database or spreadsheet, it is
size of a species. IUCN guidelines possible to import this data directly to References
suggest a minimum convex polygon the map editor. Data simply needs to
(MCP) can be used to calculate this be converted to comma separated , Bachman, S., Moat, J., Hill, A.W.,
value. A MCP is defined as the smallest values format following a standard de la Torre, J. and Scott, B. 2011.
polygon in which no internal angle structure. Supporting Red List threat
exceeds 180˚ and contains all sites of assessments with GeoCAT: geospatial
occurrence. This value represents the • Manual add - you may have specific conservation assessment tool.
spread of risk for a species such that knowledge regarding the distribution ZooKeys 150: 117–126 doi:
species with a large extent will be more of a species. The user can add points 10.3897/zookeys.150.210
robust to threatening processes. An directly to the map with a single click.
alternative approach for depicting a , Brummitt, N., Bachman, S.P. and
species range is to show the area where With data on the map the user can then Moat, J. 2008. Using the Red List as
a species occurs or area of occupancy edit by adjusting points, removing them a barometer for plant diversity.
(AOO). A simple way to measure this and by examining the original data e.g. Endangered Species Research.
value is to overlay the distribution with a inspecting a Flickr image to see if it really doi: 10.3354/esr0013
grid and sum the area of square grid is the species it is labelled as. From here,
cells the species occupies at the click of a button the analysis can , IUCN. 2001. IUCN Red List Categories
be enabled. Based on the points on the and Criteria: Version 3.1. IUCN
How it works - calculating map, the extent of occurrence (EOO) and Species Survival Commission. IUCN,
geographic range of species for area of occupancy (AOO) values are Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge,
Red List assessments instantly calculated and the values are UK: 30 p
compared with the thresholds set in the
GeoCAT is driven by primary occurrence IUCN Criteria. For example if the extent , Plants under pressure a global
data. For hundreds of years botanists is less than 5,000 km2 then it meets the assessment. The first report of the
have been travelling to the ends of the threshold for the Endangered (EN) IUCN Sampled Red List Index for
earth to take cuttings from plants as category. From here a simple report can Plants. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew,
scientific specimens. Herbarium be generated and the data can be saved UK. 2010
specimens are verifiable records that or exported to other formats such as http://www.kew.org/science-
show where and when a particular KML for visualisation in other packages conservation/search-rescue/mapping-
species was collected. By combining such as Google Earth. As mentioned plants/plants-at-risk/index.htm
these records at the species level we previously it should be noted that this
immediately have an indication of the does not represent a full Red List Steve Bachman and Justin Moat
geographic range of a species and it is assessment, it provides evidence that Royal Botanic Gardens Kew,
this data that GeoCAT analyses to fulfils part of the criteria. Richmond,
determine the two measures of extent of Surrey
occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy Impact and benefits TW9 3AB,
(AOO). A benefit of GeoCAT is that as UK
well as data being provided by the user GeoCAT is a good example of the Email: s.bachman@kew.org
e.g. from a database of their own innovative work presently being carried
specimens, it can also be imported from out in botanic gardens, in this case to
existing online sources such as GBIF and directly support plant conservation.
Flickr. The images in Flickr need to be Specifically GeoCAT provides the
labelled with the species name and potential to speed up the Red Listing
‘geotagged’ or ‘georeferenced’ i.e. process for plants and offers hope that
assigned a latitude and longitude co- global targets such as the Global
ordinate so we know where it was taken. Strategy for Plant Conservation may be
reached. By utilising existing data it is an
The data can be entered in three ways: evidence based approach that can be
used immediately as much occurrence
• Import from online sources - existing data is already available. The tool is
sources of primary data can be open and free to use so there are no
queried. By adding a search term e.g. restrictions in terms of accessibility aside
a scientific name or a common name from a connection to the internet. It
you can query two sources of online provides a platform that can be built on
data: GBIF and Flickr. Any matching in the future to make other aspects of
record that has been georeferenced the Red List criteria automated. In short,
can be added directly to the map it could be the first step towards a fully
editor. automated data driven Red List
13 BGCI • 2012 • BGjournal • Vol 9 (1)Author: Valerie Pence
FROM FREEZING TO THE FIELD—
IN VITRO METHODS ASSISTING PLANT CONSERVATION
When seeds are few and cuttings difficult, tissue culture
can provide an alternative conservation pathway
Above: The rockhouse habitat that is home to the Cumberland sandwort experimental population (Valerie Pence)
Left: A storage tank in CREW’s CryoBioBank (CREW).
primarily at species for which traditional (Sarasan, et al., 2006). The PRD
approaches are not adequate. Thus, collaborates with a number of other
when seeds are few and cuttings are not institutions, including botanical gardens
workable, tissue culture can provide an in the Center for Plant Conservation
alternative method for propagation. network (Center for Plant Conservation
When seeds are lacking or are 2012), government agencies, NGOs, and
“recalcitrant” (sensitive to the drying research stations. These institutions
necessary for traditional seed-banking), often identify plants for which in vitro
freezing tissues from in vitro cultures can approaches could be useful and then
be an additional tool for banking valuable provide the starting material (seeds or
genetic material from rare taxa. The PRD shoot tips) to CREW for propagation.
has developed protocols for the in vitro
Introduction propagation and/or preservation of over
ff the main public path of the
50 rare species, providing materials for
restoration projects and tissues for long- “ Over 100 botanic gardens
around the world have tissue
O Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical
Garden, in the corner of the park,
term storage in liquid nitrogen in CREW’s
CryoBioBank.
culture and micropropagation
one can find the Carl H. Lindner Family
Center for Conservation and Research of
Endangered Wildlife (CREW). From this
small, two-story building, plant and
Propagation for restoration
Propagation is a key element in
facilities.
”
(BGCI GardenSearch database, 2012)
animal research is being conducted that providing plants for recovery projects. The Autumn buttercup (Ranunculus
is impacting rare species across the For many endangered species, aestivalis) is one such species, known
country, and beyond. CREW’s Plant traditional propagation by seed or from one site in south central Utah in the
Research Division (PRD)’s particular cuttings can meet propagation needs, Sevier River Valley. When it became
focus is using in vitro (tissue culture) but for species with few or no seeds or obvious that the population was
methods for propagating and preserving few individuals, plant tissue culture can declining, The Nature Conservancy
endangered plants. The work is directed be used to supplement these methods bought the property in order to protect
14 BGCI • 2012 • BGjournal • Vol 9 (1) • 14-17Todsen’s pennyroyal growing at White Sands
Missile Base (Doug Winget).
and northern Tennessee. Like the
Autumn buttercup, CREW initiated
several genetically different tissue
culture lines from seeds that had been
collected by researchers at the Missouri
Botanical Garden. Shoots were
produced, rooted, and plants transferred
back to soil.
In order to demonstrate the feasibility of
using tissue culture propagated plants
for the recovery of this species, an
experimental out-planting was made at a
rockhouse site in southern Kentucky in
collaboration with the U.S. Forest
Service. Plants were planted in different
areas of the rockhouse, in order to
evaluate the microhabitats within the
rockhouse, which differed in light and
moisture levels. Over the course of six
years, plants at several of the microsites
have grown and reproduced well,
indicating the viability of these methods,
were initiated from each seedling. As should they be needed to help preserve
with most tissue culture systems, the the species in the future. A genetic
shoots can be maintained and multiplied study is also underway to analyze the
in culture by dividing and sub-culturing genetic diversity of this new,
the shoots onto fresh medium every 6-8 experimental population.
weeks. By changing the components of
the medium, the shoots can be By combining the laboratory strengths of
stimulated to form roots, and once CREW with the field expertise of
rooted, the shoots are then ready to be collaborators in botanical gardens,
moved back into soil. This is a clonal governmental agencies, and non-profit
method of propagation, but each genetic organizations, the work at CREW is
line initiated from a separate seed is being integrated into conservation
maintained separately, creating a efforts for species recovery and
collection of genetically distinct lines in demonstrating that tissue culture
tissue culture. propagation can be an important tool for
conservation and restoration.
When the plants were rooted, they were
sent to the Arboretum at Flagstaff, where
they were carefully removed from their
culture tubes and acclimatized to soil
and to real-life conditions in a
greenhouse. At that point they were
Cumberland sandwort flowering in culture ready to face life out in the wild. In 2007,
(Valerie Pence). a group of buttercups, originally
propagated at CREW, was planted back
the plant. Over the past decade, five out at the Sevier Preserve, and, while
organizations, including CREW, The none of the plants from the original
Arboretum at Flagstaff, The Nature population have been seen in recent
Conservancy, U.S. Fish & Wildlife years, a group of the CREW-propagated
Service, and Utah State University, have plants are surviving and flowering.
come together in a partnership to work
on studying and restoring this species Another such species is the Cumberland
(Pence et al., 2008). A small number of sandwort (Minuartia cumberlandensis), a
seeds were collected at the site and sent small plant that grows only in sandstone
to CREW where they were germinated rockhouse habitats in the Daniel Boone
in vitro, and shoot propagating cultures National Forest of southern Kentucky The Autumn buttercup (Valerie Pence).
15 BGCI • 2012 • BGjournal • Vol 9 (1)Resources for the Future of state and federally endangered banking (Pence, 2011). For these plants,
species from Kentucky, Indiana, and banking tissues from in vitro cultures in
In a similar fashion, the PRD is utilizing in Ohio, including such species as Short’s liquid nitrogen can provide an alternative
vitro methods to provide tissues for goldenrod (Solidago shortii) and Running method for long-term germplasm
long-term liquid nitrogen storage, when buffalo clover (Trifolium stoloniferum). storage. At CREW, multiple genotypes of
seed banking is not a workable option Because not all endangered plants are several species are being collected, put
for a species (Engelmann, 2004). This seed plants, there is a Pteridophyte into culture, and then cryopreserved, in
work centers on the CryoBioBank (CBB), (Fern) Bank and a Bryophyte (Moss) order to maintain a back-up to the
CREW’s liquid nitrogen storage facility. Bank, which contain spores, as well as genetic diversity of these species,
The plant collections, or “Frozen tissues of gametophytes and should they decline or be lost in the wild.
Garden” within the CryoBioBank include sporophytes. The Endangered Plant These include three endangered
seeds, spores, and tissues of about 150 Tissue Bank contains samples of tissues pawpaws endemic to Florida, the Four-
plant species in four distinct collections, from in vitro cultures of endangered petal pawpaw (Asimina tetramera),
all stored at -196oC (-320oF). plants that are grown at CREW. Material
is continually added to the collection, The small Cumberland sandwort flower
Seeds and spores are prepared for and some samples are over 20 years old. (Brian Jorg).
freezing by simple drying, but tissues, Recently, samples of pollen from the
such as shoot tips and embryos, require American chestnut (Castanea dentata)
more elaborate procedures. were shown to be viable after 15 years of
Concentrated solutions of sugar and other storage in liquid nitrogen, while shoot
chemicals, known as cryoprotectants, tips of the Cumberland sandwort were
remove water from the tissues and protect recovered after 10 years in liquid
the cells from damage during the freezing nitrogen.
and thawing processes. The extremely
low temperatures of liquid nitrogen Perhaps one of the most important uses
provide stability for the tissues, of the CryoBioBank is to preserve
maintaining them in a state of suspended tissues from endangered species that fall
animation for decades. into the category of “exceptional”
species. These are plants that either
The CryoBioBanks's Frozen Garden is produce few or no seeds, or their seeds
made up of four distinct collections. are sensitive to drying and cannot be put
The Regional Seed Bank includes seeds through the rigors of normal seed-
A second planting of CREW propagated Autumn buttercups took place in 2010 in Utah (Valerie Pence).
16 BGCI • 2012 • BGjournal • Vol 9 (1)You can also read
