The Creation of Protected Ecosystems as the Conservation-Friendly Way to Save Genus Begonia from Extinction

Abstract

The unique protected ecosystems created by the Central Siberian Botanical Garden (CSBG) researchers on the basis of ecological – geographical principle allowed the establishment of exact soil and microclimate conditions, favorable to the vigorous growth of many terrestrial Begonias. Begonias are successfully introduced in the CSBG as an understorey component of the pluristratal tropical forest and well adapted to the shady, humid conditions. Maintenance of rich Begoniaceae collection was based on the concept of imaging the natural habitat of the Begonias to determine environmental factors such as illuminance, temperature, humidity and substrate preference. In vitro regeneration of 4 Begonia genotypes was carried out starting from female flower segments and peduncles as explants. These regenerants have a better capability to grow than traditionally obtained ones and their flowers developed to anthesis in vitro. The techniques open a new way for an efficient micropropagation protocol for Begonia species conservation in vitro.