scholarly journals Structure and floristic composition associated with an endangered species Beta patula Aiton (Amaranthaceae) in the Islands of Madeira Archipelago

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Humberto Nóbrega ◽  
Gregório Freitas ◽  
M. A. Zavattieri ◽  
Carla Ragonezi ◽  
Miguel Pinheiro de Carvalho

Twenty-two native Crop Wild Relatives (CWR) occur in specific dry environments of Madeira Archipelago, like Desembarcadouro islet in Ponta de São Lourenço and Chão islet in Desertas Islands. Nine of them share the same gene pool with crop species included in Annex I of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Amongst them, Beta patula Aiton, an IUCN Critically Endangered species, has been studied in detail for in situ and ex situ conservation. The present paper summarises the information recorded during the Beta patula population assessment. Valuable information on plant communities associated with this species was obtained. The data provides information of a vegetation census spanning 7 years, from 2014 to 2020, in two uninhabited islets where Beta patula occurs, Desembarcadouro and Chão islets. The collected dataset consists of 1,786 vegetation descriptions, where 31 species were recorded. All generated data have been published and will be used towards the implementation of conservation actions and to establish a middle term management protocol for Beta patula and other CWR in situ conservation in the framework of a genetic reserve. This work is part of a EU LIFE Project, LIFE RECOVER NATURA and was conducted by members of the ISOPlexis Center, University of Madeira.

Author(s):  
Nolipher Khaki Mponya ◽  
Tembo Chanyenga ◽  
Joana Magos Brehm ◽  
Nigel Maxted

Abstract The study analysed the conservation gaps of the priority crop wild relatives (CWR) taxa for Malawi in order to contribute to the development of a harmonized conservation strategy that helps secure the priority CWR under in situ and ex situ. We used taxa distribution modelling, complementarity analysis and ecogeographic land characterization map to analyse spatial diversity and distribution of 123 priority taxa across different adaptive scenarios. We identified areas of observed and predicted richness, the minimum number of protected areas (PAs) that conserve the broadest ecogeographic diversity in situ and the minimum number of grid cells that capture highest diversity outside PAs to recommend the establishment of genetic reserves. We then analysed the representativeness of the conserved ecogeographic diversity of target taxa in ex situ collections to identify ex situ conservation gaps and advise for priority areas for ex situ collections. For the 123 taxa, 70.7% of the total diversity occurs in 36 PAs with 66.8% of the diversity captured in only 10 complementary PAs. Outside PAs, the broadest diversity was conserved in three grid cells of size 5 × 5 km. Fifty-three of 123 taxa have ex situ collections with only three taxa having ex situ collections at the Malawi Plant Genetic Resources Centre. The findings of this study will guide formulation of conservation actions for the priority taxa as well as lobbying for active conservation of the same under in situ and ex situ.


Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 968 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes M. M. Engels ◽  
Imke Thormann

Crop wild relatives (CWR, plural CWRs) are those wild species that are regarded as the ancestors of our cultivated crops. It was only at the end of the last century that they were accorded a high priority for their conservation and, thus, for many genebanks, they are a new and somewhat unknown set of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. After defining and characterizing CWR and their general threat status, providing an assessment of biological peculiarities of CWR with respect to conservation management, illustrating the need for prioritization and addressing the importance of data and information, we made a detailed assessment of specific aspects of CWRs of direct relevance for their conservation and use. This assessment was complemented by an overview of the current status of CWRs conservation and use, including facts and figures on the in situ conservation, on the ex situ conservation in genebanks and botanic gardens, as well as of the advantages of a combination of in situ and ex situ conservation, the so-called complementary conservation approach. In addition, a brief assessment of the situation with respect to the use of CWRs was made. From these assessments we derived the needs for action in order to achieve a more effective and efficient conservation and use, specifically with respect to the documentation of CWRs, their in situ and ex situ, as well as their complementarity conservation, and how synergies between these components can be obtained. The review was concluded with suggestions on how use can be strengthened, as well as the conservation system at large at the local, national, and regional/international level. Finally, based on the foregoing assessments, a number of recommendations were elaborated on how CWRs can be better conserved and used in order to exploit their potential benefits more effectively.


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 638
Author(s):  
Marcelo B. Medeiros ◽  
José F. M. Valls ◽  
Aluana G. Abreu ◽  
Gustavo Heiden ◽  
Suelma Ribeiro-Silva ◽  
...  

This study presents the status of ex situ and in situ conservation for the crop wild relatives of rice, potato, sweet potato, and finger millet in Brazil, and the subsequent germplasm collection expeditions. This research is part of a global initiative entitled “Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change: Collecting, Protecting, and Preparing Crop Wild Relatives” supported by the Global Crop Diversity Trust. Species of the primary, secondary, and tertiary gene pools with occurrences reported in Brazil were included: Oryza alta Swallen, O. grandiglumis (Döll) Prod., O. latifolia Desv., O. glumaepatula Steud., Eleusine tristachya (Lam.) Lam., E. indica (L.) Gaertn., Solanum commersonii Dunal, S. chacoense Bitter, Ipomoea grandifolia (Dammer) O’Donell, I. ramosissima (Poir.) Choisy, I. tiliacea (Willd.) Choisy, I. triloba L., and I. cynanchifolia Meisn. The status of the ex situ and in situ conservation of each taxon was assessed using the gap analysis methodology, and the results were used to plan 16 germplasm collection expeditions. Seeds of the collected material were evaluated for viability, and the protocols for seed germination and cryopreservation were tested. The final conservation score, resulting from the gap analysis and including the average of the ex situ and in situ scores, resulted in a classification of medium priority of conservation for all the species, with the exception of I. grandifolia (high priority). The total accessions collected (174) almost doubled the total accessions of these crop wild relatives incorporated in Embrapa’s ex situ conservation system prior to 2015. In addition, accessions for practically absent species were collected for the ex situ conservation system, such as Ipomoea species, Eleusine indica, and Solanum chacoense. The methods used for dormancy breaking and low temperature conservation for the Oryza, Eleusine, and Ipomoea species were promising for the incorporation of accessions in the respective gene banks. The results show the importance of efforts to collect and conserve ex situ crop wild relatives in Brazil based on previous gap analysis. The complementarity with the in situ strategy also appears to be very promising in the country.


2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 242-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holly Vincent ◽  
Roland von Bothmer ◽  
Helmut Knüpffer ◽  
Ahmed Amri ◽  
Jan Konopka ◽  
...  

To facilitate the updating ofin situandex situconservation strategies for wild taxa of the genusHordeumL., a combined ecogeographic survey and gap analysis was undertaken. The analysis was based on the Global Inventory of Barley Plant Genetic Resources held by ICARDA plus additional datasets, resulting in a database containing 17,131 wildHordeumaccessions. The analysis concluded that a genetic reserve should be established in the Mendoza Province of Argentina, as this is the most species-rich area globally forHordeum. A network of reserves should also be set up across the Fertile Crescent in Israel, Palestine, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey to provide effective conservation within the centres of diversity for gene pools 1B (Hordeum vulgaresubsp.spontaneum(C. Koch) Thell.) and 2 (Hordeum bulbosumL.). The majority of the species were deemed under-collected, so further collecting missions are required worldwide where possible. Althoughex situandin situconservation strategies have been developed, there needs to be further investigation into the ecological environments thatHordeumspecies occupy to ensure that any adaptive traits expressed are fully conserved. Additionally, studies are required to characterize existing collections and test the viability of rare species accessions held in genebanks to determine whether furtherex situcollections are required alongside the proposedin situconservation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dickson Ng'uni ◽  
Graybill Munkombwe ◽  
Godfrey Mwila ◽  
Hannes Gaisberger ◽  
Joana Magos Brehm ◽  
...  

AbstractCrop wild relatives (CWR) are valuable gene pools for crop improvement and offer unique potential and opportunity for enhancing food security and adaptation to climate change. However, current actions towards conservation of plant genetic resources in Zambia do not adequately cover CWR occurring in the country. The article describes the process leading to the development of a national strategic action plan (NSAP) for the conservation and sustainable use of priority CWR in Zambia. Based on 59 prioritized crops, a partial checklist of 459 CWR taxa was generated from the national flora checklist of 6305 taxa. The generated CWR taxa were prioritized based on the socio-economic value of the related crop, their utilization potential in crop improvement, relative distribution and threat status to produce 30 prioritized CWR taxa. Occurrence data were compiled for all CWR inventory taxa and used in spatial analyses to establish species distribution, species richness, gaps in in situ conservation and genebank collections, and to identify priority sites for in situ conservation and ex situ collecting. Consistent with the national developmental agenda, along with the contribution of national stakeholders, spatial analyses of occurrence data of priority CWR taxa are valuable input for the development of the NSAP for the conservation and sustainable use of the priority CWR.


2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 164-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Necla Tas ◽  
George West ◽  
Gun Kircalioglu ◽  
S. Boyraz Topaloglu ◽  
Jade Phillips ◽  
...  

AbstractCrop wild relatives (CWR) are wild plant taxa relatively closely related to crops that can contribute beneficial traits for crop improvement, such as biotic and abiotic stress resistance. Turkey has a rich flora of approximately 11,000 higher plant taxa, has two Vavilov centres of crop diversity (i.e. the Mediterranean and the Near East), is recognized as the cradle of agriculture providing the northern boundary of the Fertile Crescent, and has recently been identified as the country with the highest concentration of CWR diversity. The objective of this paper is to present the results of a gap analysis of CWR genetic diversity in Turkey using existing data sources of 458 of the 764 priority CWR taxa with available georeferenced data. In total, 27,597 presence points were obtained from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, Aegean Agricultural Research Institute in Menemen and Field Crops Central Research Institute, Ankara. Geographic Information System (GIS) software was used to identify taxon richness, sampling bias, future ex situ population collection and location where existing protected sites could form the basis of national network of in situ genetic reserves. CWR taxon richness was located along the Aegean Coast, Syrian border and southern Mediterranean coast. Current ex situ representation of CWR taxa is inadequate and further collection across the entire country is required. The highest priority in situ reserve location is found in Izmir, Sanliurfa and Antalya province, which reflects overall CWR richness.


Author(s):  
Jane Muthoni ◽  
Hussein Shimelis ◽  
Rob Melis

Plant genetic resources (PGRs) play an important role in agriculture, environment protection, cultural property and trade; they need to be conserved. There are two fundamental approaches for the conservation of PGRs: in situ and ex situ. In situ conservation is the conservation of ecosystems and natural habitats and the maintenance and recovery of viable populations of species in their natural surroundings. Ex situ preservation is the storage of seeds or plant materials under artificial conditions to maintain their long term viability and availability for use. Genebanks employ seed storage, field collections of living plants and in vitro storage (tissue culture or cryopreservation) for ex situ preservation of PGR. Storage of orthodox seeds, which are tolerant to low moisture content and low temperatures at appropriate temperature and humidity, is the most convenient ex situ conservation method. Plants that produce recalcitrant seeds or non-viable seeds are conserved in field genebanks as well as in-vitro in slow growth media for short-to-medium term and cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen at -1960C for long-term periods. Cryopreservation is very expensive and needs trained personnel; this could explain why this method is rarely used for conservation of plant genetic resources in most developing countries. Potato tubers are bulky and highly perishable; the crop is generally conserved as clones either in field genebanks (with annual replanting), in-vitro conservation in slow growth media for short-to-medium term and cryopreservation for long term. Field genebanks are expensive to maintain and the crop is exposed to many dangers; hence, cryopreservation is the only feasible method for long term conservation. However, given the high cost of cryopreservation, long-term conservation of potato genetic resources is poorly developed in most resource-poor countries leading to high rates of genetic erosion. This paper looks into the various methods that that can be applied to conserve potato genetic resources and the status of conservation of potatoes in major genebanks and some countries.


2019 ◽  
Vol 180 (2) ◽  
pp. 7-11
Author(s):  
G. V. Eremin ◽  
T. A. Gasanova ◽  
V. G. Eremin ◽  
I. S. Chepinoga

Conservation of the world’s plant genetic resources is one of the most significant and relevant problems of mankind. At Krymsk Experimental Breeding Station of VIR, where the largest stone fruit plant genetic diversity in Russia is assembled (more than 5 thousand genotypes: cultivars and species, wild forms, distant hybrids and polyploids), a collection maintenance technology of ‘border hedging’ has been developed and successfully used. This method makes it quite economical (in terms of space reduction, simplification of the system of care for the storage garden, and decreasing the use of chemical protection agents) to maintain a large number of live accessions ex situ. The border hedging technology is based on a propagule nursery system that enables plants to grow longer than in conventional gardens, constantly keeping them in a state of active growth. The basic elements of this technology are dense arrangement of plants (intervals for high-growing plants: 4.0–5.0 m between rows, and 1.0–1.5 m in a row; for low-growing ones: 2.5 m between rows, and 0.5–1.0 m in a row) and annual pruning of shoots at a height of 1.0–1.2 m. Years of experience in using a denser planting pattern for collection garden maintenance helped to identify a number of most significant factors in this system, which make up the scientific basis of the technology for optimally efficient preservation of genotypes and their genetic compliance (representativeness). Among them are biological features of the in situ plant growth habit, including vigor, selection of rootstock or decision on own-root cultivation, layout of the plot, and maintenance system. If it is necessary to study the accessions in the garden where they are preserved in order to make their initial evaluation (approbation, morphological description, study of crop structure, biochemical or biotechnological assessment, analysis of resistance to biotic and abiotic stressors), the plants should not be pruned for 1–2 years. Upon completion of these works, the trees are coppiced again.


VAVILOVIA ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-30
Author(s):  
L. Yu. Shipilina

Background. Preservation of crop wild relatives (CWR) as natural suppliers of genetic source material (GSM) is the foundation of food security. In situ conservation is considered the highest priority method. By preserving species in their natural communities, we safeguard all the genetic diversity that can be used as sources of valuable economic traits. The criteria developed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) are unable to assess the significance of crop wild relatives at the regional level. With this in view, we have used the vulnerability status categories developed at VIR. Materials and methods. Crop wild relatives of Vologda Province were the target of the study. Research material was selected in VIR’s herbarium collection (WIR, LE), along with literary data and the results of the plant exploration surveys by VIR’s scientists. The species listed in the Red Books of Leningrad, Pskov and Novgorod Provinces, the Red Book of Karelia, and the list of rare and endangered plants (2015) of Vologda Province were analyzed. For the first time, plants were tested specifically to determine the species’ vulnerability degree. On the basis of such testing, CWR requiring special conservation measures were identified. Results and conclusions. Sixty-six CWR species that require in situ conservation occur in Vologda Province. The collected materials helped to develop databases of locations for the taxa studied. In total, we identified nine species with the vulnerability status of Category I (Corylus avellana L., Onobrychis arenaria (Kit.) Ser., Phleum phleoides (L.) Karst., Thymus talijevii Klok. Et Shost., Bistorta vivipara (L.) S.F. Gray, Gypsophila fastigiata L., Koeleria glauca (Spreng.) DC., Leymus arenarius (L.) Hochst., and Scorzonera glabra Rupr.). Maps of the species with the first vulnerability status category were made. Category II was assigned to 19 species; Category III, to 38 species. The species requiring special conservation efforts were identified: relicts (11 spp.) and endemics (1 sp.). Twenty-eight species are in the list of rare and endangered plants (2015) of Vologda Province. Nizhnesukhonsky floristic area stands out for its rich CWR diversity. In addition to in situ conservation within protected areas of various ranks, the species included into Categories I and II should be conserved ex situ in botanical gardens and genetic collections held by research institutes in the northwest of Russia.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document