Current Science

K. Haridasan ¹, A. A. Mao ², M. K. Janarthanam ³, A. K. Pandey ⁴, S. K. Barik ⁵, S. K. Srivastava ⁶, P. C. Panda ⁷, Geetha Suresh ¹, S. K. Borthakur ⁸, B. K. Datta ⁹, B. Ravi Prasad Rao ¹⁰

Affiliations
1 TDU, Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions, Bengaluru 560 106, IN
2 Botanical Survey of India, Shillong 793 003, IN
3 Department of Botany, Goa University, Goa 403 206, IN
4 Department of Botany, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007, IN
5 CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow 226 001, IN
6 Botanical Survey of India, Dehradun 786 006, IN
7 Regional Plant Resource Centre (RPRC), Bhubaneswar 751 105, IN
8 Department of Botany, Gauhati University, Guwahati 781 014, IN
9 Department of Botany, Tripura University, Agartala 799 022, IN
10 Department of Botany, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapur 515 003, IN

Abstract

Conservation of biodiversity, a growing concern today, faces multiple challenges. Although ecosystem approach has been recommended as a solution, conservation of threatened species is difficult as they are spread across the ecosystems and are often restricted to microhabitats. In this article, the importance of taxonomy, herbarium and field germplasm bank in conservation of threatened species is discussed. It is concluded that individually each of these measures has important role to play in conservation. They also complement each other in reversing the threat perspective of the species.

Keywords

Biodiversity, Conservation, Germplasm Bank, Herbarium, Taxonomy.

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P. C. Panda ¹, S. Kumar ², J. P. Singh ², P. Gajurel ³, P. K. Kamila ¹, S. Kashung ³, R. N. Kulloli ², P. P. Singh ⁴, D. Adhikari ⁴, S. K. Barik ⁴

Affiliations
1 Taxonomy and Conservation Division, Regional Plant Resource Centre, Bhubaneswar 751 015, IN
2 Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Light Industrial Area, Jodhpur 342 003, IN
3 Department of Forestry, North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology, Nirjuli 791 109, IN
4 Department of Botany, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong 793 022, IN

Abstract

Populations of threatened plants are declining rapidly in natural habitats due to various anthropogenic activities. Reinforcement of the dwindling populations through reintroduction is a promising aspect for conservation of threatened plants. However, due to lack of standardized propagation methods of such plants, mass production of planting materials has become a challenge, thereby constraining the replenishment process. Identification of factors constraining the seed germination of threatened plants and addressing it effectively, are among the most cost-effective strategies for large-scale multiplication and subsequent conservation of the threatened species. Similarly, conventional low-cost vegetative propagation techniques such as grafting, air layering, and regenerating plantlets from ischolar_main-suckers, apical meristems, and stem cuttings often prove more successful for multiplication than relatively costly micropropagation techniques. In this article, we present a few case studies on low-cost mass propagation techniques of threatened plant species of India through seed, stem/apical shoot cutting and airlayering, that helped in the restoration of the species.

Keywords

Conservation, Seed Germination, Threatened Plants, Vegetative Propagation.

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