Floristic Characteristics of the Rare and Endangered Plants and the Conservation Countermeasures in Tibet, China

The floristic elements and the geographical distribution are analyzed in thispaper based on statistics of elements of rare and endangered plants in Tibet. The results have beengained as following: (1) According to 'the National Important Wild Conservative Plants List (List1)' and 'the National Important Wild Conservative Plants List (List 1)', there are a total of 54plant species (48 genera and 33 families); (2) The geographical elements are very complicated inTibet with 12 of 15 distribution patterns of genera classified by academician Wu; (3) There areobvious temperate genera with 28 genera accounting for 60. 4% of the total genera; (4) There areabundant endemic species accounting for 18. 52% of total species but poor endemic genera; (5) Thegeographical distribution is uneven and a great of species distribute in the areas between 1 000 mand 3 500 m above sea level; (6) To protect the rare and endangered plants efficiently, sixconservation measures are proposed, and 35 species are suggested for the conservative plants of theautonomous conservation level.

Investigation on the Rare and Endangered Plants in the Fenhe Source

Fouty-eight species of rare and endanged plants in the Fenhe Source,belong to 21 families 37 genera.There were 1specie of national second-class protected plant and 3 species of national third-class plants;4 species of first-class protected plants,6 species of second-class protected plants and 14 species of third-class protected plants in Shanxi Province.On the basis of analyzing the endanged reasons,related protection countemeasures were put forward in this article.

Genetic Diversity of Cephalotaxus mannii, a Rare and Endangered Plant

Using RAPD technique, the DNA diversity of Cephalotaxus mannii Hook. f., its genetic diversity pattern, the reasons for its endangered position and conservative approaches were studied. The results show that: 1. The genetic diversity of C. mannii collected from five localities in Hainan is low, and its adaptability to environmental change is weak. 2. The differences of genetic diversity between intra- and inter-populations are great, and the major variation distributes within the population (DNA diversity is 85.1%). 3. The excessive lumbering, man-made destruction, violent typhoon, edible value of the seeds and genetic drift were the main reasons for the low-level genetic diversity of C. mannii and its endangered position. 4. The difference of the micro-environment and other random factors affecting the population should also be taken into full consideration in the study and in protection of such occasionally scattered plants. 5. Enforced measures should be taken to protect the present population, enlarge the population and lower the loss rate of its gene. Mt. Limulin should be chosen as a conservative spot because of its high genetic diversity and less destruction of the forest. Meanwhile, the protection of other populations should be enforced. 6. The differences within and between the populations are great based on different primers used. The change of proportions in polymorphic loci between the populations is more than that between the primers.

Studies on the Reproductive Biology and Endangerment Mechanism of the Endangered Plant Manglietia aromatica

The embryogenesis, pollen germination, floral character and seed physiology of the endangered plant Manglietia aromatica Dandy were investigated. Based on this study, this species has very low seed set rate. The abortion rate of functional megaspores in all the ovules is 27.9%, the egg cell abortion rate of mature embryo sacs is up to 80%, and the germination rate of pollen grains is as low as nearly 0.01%. In addition, the floral structure appears to be another limited factor for the effective pollination of this species. The endangerment mechanism of this species seems to be comprehensive. Human's destroying actions are the direct factors that have made the population degenerate quickly; low reproductive ability and the destroyed environments are the main reasons that prevent the population from renovating and spreading. Therefore, the conservation measures suggested by this study are to research the breed technology, artificial population renovating, in situ conservation, and ex situ conservation.

Advance of New Researches on Tissue Culture of Rare and Endangered Plant Elaeagnus mollis

This review summarized the recent research achievements on the process of tissue culture of the rare and endangered plant Elaeagnus mollis,including sterilizing protocols of different explants derived from adult plants and seeds for tube germination,two types of plants regeneration（organ type and organ genesis type）,methods of rooting and transplanting,factors affecting culture,as well as browning and vitrification phenomena and avoiding measures.And the further biotechnology research fields of E.mollis were prospected.

Leaf phenotypic variation of endangered plant Tetracentron sinense Oliv.and influence of geographical and climatic factors

To analyze the degree and pattern of phenotypic variation in leaves of Tetracentron sinense Oliv from the perspective of genetic and environmental adaptation and thus contribute to effective evidence-based conservation and management strategies for germplasm resources,we measured 17 morphological and epidermal micromorphological leaf traits from 24 natural populations of T.sinense.Nested analysis of variance,multiple comparison,principal component analysis(PCA),cluster analysis,and correlation analysis were used to explore phenotypic leaf variation among and within populations and potential correlations with geographic and environmental factors.There were significant differences in 17 leaf phenotypic traits among and within populations.The mean phenotypic differentiation coefficient of the 17 traits was 56.34%,and the variation among populations(36.4%)was greater than that within populations(27.2%).The coefficient of variation(CV)of each trait ranged from 4.6 to 23.8%,and the mean was 11.8%.Phenotypic variation of leaves was related to environmental factors such as average annual sunshine hours,average July temperature,and average annual rainfall.The variation changed along gradients of longitude,latitude,and altitude.The PCA clustered the 24 natural populations into four groups.Our study suggests that phenotypic variation in T.sinense occurred primarily among populations,with moderate levels of phenotypic differentiation among populations and low levels of phenotypic variation within populations.The plant’s poor adaptability to the environment is likely an important contributor to its endangerment.Accordingly,conservation strategies are proposed to protect and manage the natural populations of T.sinense.

Age structure and static life tables of the endangered Juniperus phoenicea L. in North Sinai Mountains, Egypt:implication for conservation

Studying the population ecology of endangered plants provides important baseline information for its monitoring and conservation.Juniperus phoenicea L.is an endangered species in arid ecosystems in Africa and the Middle East.The static life tables,survival curve and age structure of J.phoenicea populations from two mountains in North Sinai,Egypt(Gabal(G.)El-Halal and G.El-Maghara)were investigated.In each mountain,fifteen plots were selected,and field measurements such as stand density,tree height,and crown diameter were conducted.Moreover,44 trees were cored and crossdated according to standard dendrochronological procedures.The results showed that the tree ages ranged from 50 to 262 years at G.El-Halal and 96 to431 years at G.El-Maghara.Mature J.phoenicea individuals dominated the study area,with only a few individuals being younger than 100 years.Moreover,seedling recruitment was extremely limited.Since the studied J.phoenicea populations showed high mortality rates among both old and young individuals,there is an imminent need for establishing a conservation program to prevent its extinction in the future.Therefore,management and conservation efforts should be made to minimize human disturbance and protect the relic habitats of this endangered species at its southern distribution limits in Africa.

Development and characterization of 43 microsatellite markers for the critically endangered primrose Primula reinii using MiSeq sequencing

Primula reinii(Primulaceae), a perennial herb belonging to the Primula section Reinii, occurs on wet,shaded rocky cliffs in the mountains of Japan. This threatened species comprises four varieties; these plants are very localized and rare in the wild. In this study, 43 microsatellite markers were developed using MiSeq sequencing to facilitate conservation genetics of these critically endangered primroses. We developed novel microsatellite markers for three varieties of P. reinii, and tested its polymorphism and genetic diversity using natural populations. These novel markers displayed relatively high polymorphism; the number of alleles and expected heterozygosities ranged from 2 to 6(mean = 3.2) and 0.13 to 0.82(mean = 0.45), respectively. All loci were in Hardye Weinberg equilibrium. These microsatellite markers will be powerful tools to assess P. reinii genetic diversity and develop effective conservation and management strategies.

Genetic effects of historical anthropogenic disturbance on a long-lived endangered tropical tree Vatica mangachapoi

The endangered Vatica mangachapoi,a longlived,tropical tree with economic and ecological importance found in Hainan,China,was used to assess the hypothesis that historical human activities in Hainan’s tropical rain forest could have negative effects on the genetic diversity of V.mangachapoi.Three hundred and twenty individuals from 11 natural populations—which were classified into three groups according to levels of disturbance—were sampled and analyzed with ISSRmarkers.Although genetic diversity of V.mangachapoi is high at the species level,it is relatively low within populations.A significant genetic differentiation occurs among different disturbance levels.Significant isolation-by-distance indicated relevant historical anthropogenic changes.Our findings showed that historical human disturbances significantly increase the genetic differentiation and slightly decrease the genetic diversity of long-lived tree V.mangachapoi.Relevant targeting conservation actions were recommended.

Morphological Diversity and Nomenclature of Swertia chirayita (Gentianaceae)—Recovery of Endangered Medicinal Plant Population in North Eastern Himalaya

Swertia chirayita is a highly endangered and very well known medicinal plant enlisted in the IUCN list of endangered plants in the world. The plant is currently having a very low population in eastern Himalayan region due to its very low germinability in its own natural habitat. The plant population was found to have a range of diversity in morphological observations and some of the morphovariants were found to be very low among the variant populations which created a concern due to its diminishing range of genetic base in this region. A basic group of 5 morphovariants and 24 sub variants were identified and separately maintained. It is a pluriannual plant and reproductive or flowering stage was observed after completion of two years of vegetative stage from the time of seed germination. A range of morphovariant diversity was observed in the populations of Neora Valley and Lava region of eastern Himalaya in our investigation. Diversity was critically observed in some of the parameters of different morphovariants in the population. Conservation practices were generally done by not making groups or sub groups of this endangered plant while we proposed the way of conservation by making groups for proper conservation of this vulnerable plant.

The whole-genome survey of Acer griseum,its polymorphic simple sequence repeats development and application

Background:Acer griseum Pax is an endangered species endemic to China with both ornamental and economic value.However,the lack of information on its genome size and characteristics hinders further work at the genome level.Methods:This paper applied bioinformatics methods to predict the characteristics and patterns of the A.griseum genome,providing an important basis for formulating its whole-genome sequencing scheme.This study also characterized the simple sequence repeats(SSRs)of A.griseum,laying the foundation for the development and application of genome-wide SSR markers.In this study,PE150 sequencing was performed by the BGI MGISEQ platform,and the sequence files were analyzed by the K-mer method to estimate the characteristic information by GCE software.Results:The genome size was finally determined to be 739.63 Mb,its heterozygosity ratio was 1.33%,and the repetition ratio was 65.68%.A total of 825,960 SSR loci were identified in the assembled genome sequence,and primers were successfully designed for 526,020 loci.To verify the effectiveness of these primers,100 pairs of primers were randomly selected and synthesized,and 81 pairs successfully amplified the target fragments.Fourteen pairs of primers with good polymorphism were selected for principal component analysis of 31 A.griseum individuals from two populations,showing favorable heterozygosity and PIC values.According to the findings,these SSRs might identify genetic variations based on geographic areas.Conclusion:It is suggested that Illumina+PacBio assembly strategy should be used for whole-genome sequencing due to the high heterozygosity rate and high repetition rate of the genome.In addition,the SSR primers designed in batches in this study laid a foundation for the in-depth study of population structure and population maintenance mechanism of A.griseum,which is helpful for the effective conservation and sustainable utilization of this germplasm resource.

The role of botanical gardens in scientific research, conservation, and citizen science

Plant diversity is currently being lost at an unprecedented rate, resulting in an associated decrease in ecosystem services. About a third of the world＇s vascular plant species face the threat of extinction due to a variety of devastating activities, including, over-harvesting and over exploitation, destructive agricul- tural and forestry practices, urbanization, environmental pollution, land-use changes, exotic invasive species, global climate change, and more. We therefore need to increase our efforts to develop integrative conservation approaches for plant species conservation. Botanical gardens devote their resources to the study and conservation of plants, as well as making the world＇s plant species diversity known to the public. These gardens also play a central role in meeting human needs and providing well-being. In this minireview, a framework for the integrated missions of botanical gardens, including scientific research, inJex situ conservation, plant resource utilization, and citizen science are cataloged. By reviewing the history of the development of Kunming Botanical Garden, we illustrate successful species conservation approaches （among others, projects involving Camellia, Rhododendron, Magnolia, Begonia, Alliurn, Ne- penthes, medicinal plants, ornamental plants, and Plant Species with Extreme Small Populations）, as well as citizen science, and scientific research at Kunming Botanical Garden over the past 80 years. We emphasize that Kunming Botanical Garden focuses largely on the ex situ conservation of plants from Southwest China, especially those endangered, endemic, and economically important plant species native to the Yunnan Plateau and the southern Hengduan Mountains. We also discuss the future chal- lenges and responsibilities of botanical gardens in a changing world, including： the negative effects of outbreeding and/or inbreeding depression; promoting awareness, study, and conservation of plant species diversity; accelerating global access to information about plant diversity; increasing capacity building and training activities. We hope this minireview can promote understanding of the role of botanical gardens.

Mating system and genetic diversity of a rare desert legume Ammopiptanthus nanus (Leguminosae)

Ammopiptanthus nanus is an endangered evergreen shrub endemic to the deserts of central Asia and plays an important role in delaying further desertification. We examined allozyme variation and AFLP diversity in A. nanus populations and investigated the mating system of this species using progeny arrays assayed for polymorphic allozyme loci. Mating system analysis in the Keyi＇eryongke＇er population showed low levels of outcrossing, and strong inbreeding depression. Low levels of genetic variation were detected at both population （allozyme, Pp=14.0%, A=l.14, He=0.031; AFLP, Pp=14.5%, Shannon＇s information index I=0.063） and species （allozyme, Pp=21.1%, A=1.21, He=0.040; AFLP, Pp=20.9%, I=0.083） levels; while moderate genetic differentiation existed among populations, as indicated by allozymes （Gsa-=0.081） and AFLP （GST=0.151-0.193）. Founder effect, bottlenecks in evolutionary history, the mixed mating system and co-ancestry may have influenced the level of genetic diversity in A. nanus. Markers of both types provide new insights for conservation management, indicating that the Biao＇ertuokuoyi and Keyi＇eryongke＇er populations should be given priority for in situ conservation and regarded as seed sources for ex situ conservation.

Analysis and Comparison on Population Dynamics between Adenophoralobophylla and Adenophora potaninii by Leslie Matrix

The population dynamic tendency of Adenophora Iobophvlla Hong as an endangered species and Adenophora potaninii Korsh as widespread species. has been predicted by the Leslie matrix. And the comparison and analysis on the age structures between two species have been carried out in this paper. The results demonstrate the A. lobophylla popuations which have the reasonable age struetures perform slowly negative or positive increment at altitude 2300-3400 m. Especially. below altitude 2700 m. there are many populations performing seriously declining tendcncy. Contrary, A potaninii populations could adapt to environment perfectly at the corresponding condition without finding the population which performs the seriously declining tendency. The differences in developing tendency of population between the two species demonstrate that A. Iobopliylla populations have the weaker ability to adapt to the external unfavorable conditions.

Micropropagation and Callus Culture of Saussurea laniceps, an Alpine Medicinal Plant

Cottonhead windhairdaisy (Saussurea laniceps Hand.-Mazz.) is one of the most famous and important medicinal herbs in China. Illegal collection from wild populations is increasingly threatening the present environment of S. laniceps. Estab- lishment of an efficient method for micropropagation is the best way to change its endangered situation. When mature seeds of S. laniceps were cultured on hormone-free MS medium, plantlets were formed from germinated seeds in 7–10 d. Then 0.5 cm × 0.5 cm leaf explants were transplanted to MS medium supplemented with 1-naphthalene-acetic acid (NAA)/2,4-D and benzyladenine (BA)/KT and callus was achieved 10 d after transfer. Shoot bud regeneration occurred from callus cultured on MS medium supple- mented with different growth regulators 20 d after culturing. The regeneration percentages varied with the different components of plant growth regulators. The percent regeneration from callus pretreated at low temperature of 5°C increased significantly compared with those incubated at 23/20°C directly. Optimal regeneration was observed with explants on media supplemented with 1.5 mg·L–1 BA plus 0.2 mg·L–1 NAA. In the presence of 0.2 mg·L–1 NAA in half-strength MS, 78% of the shoots formed roots. Plantlets from explants showed 63% survival after acclimatization.

New combination in Veronica (Scrophulariaceae s.l.) based on morphological characters and the seed storage protein polymorphism

Veronica erciyasdagi （M. A. Fischer） C. Vural comb. ＆ stat. nov., previously regarded as a variety, is proposed as a new combination, based on the morphological characters and seed storage protein polymorphism presented in this study. In addition, information about the ecology and conservation status of Veronica erciyasdagi was reported. This taxon is endemic to central Anatolia, Turkey and is critically endangered.

Quantitative analysis of endangered Acanthopanax senticosus communities in Dongling Mountain of Beijing

Based on the survey of community plots,a quantitative analysis of endangered Acanthopanax senticosus communities in Dongling Mountain was performed with two way indicator species analysis(TWINSPAN),detrended correspondence analysis(DCA)and canonical correspondence analysis(CCA).The communities of A.senticosus were classified into 9 types by TWINSPAN and the results were validated by DCA.On the DCA graph,the first axis reflected the gradient of altitude and the second axis reflected the aspect and slope.Most of A.senticosus were distributed in the thick forests at a high altitude with little light.With the exception of being a dominant species of shrub layers in a few communities,A.senticosus has a relatively scarce distribution.In accordance with DCA,the results of CCA also show the trend that the distribution of A.senticosus communities varied along with the gradient change of environmental factors.Altitude and light are the main factors affecting A.senticosus growth.