Collection Expeditions Research Articles

What Was George Forrest's Plant Collection Journey like in China?

Since the 16th century, Western countries have conducted extensive plant collections in Asia, particularly in China, driven by the need to collect botanical resources and foster academic development. These activities have not only significantly enriched the Western botanical specimen collections but have also had a profound impact on the development of related disciplines such as botany, ecology, and horticulture. During this process, a large number of renowned plant hunters emerged, whose discoveries and contributions are still remembered today. George Forrest (1873-1932) was one of these distinguished plant hunters. From 1904 to 1932, he visited China seven times to collect plants and became famous for the regional distinctiveness of the species he collected. However, due to the lack of systematic collection, organization, and analysis of specimens collected by Forrest, only a few species, such as the species Rhododendron, are well-known among the many species he introduced to the West. Furthermore, the personal collecting characteristics and the characteristic species collected by Forrest are also not clear. This limits a comprehensive understanding of the specimen collection history and impact of Forrest in China. Therefore, systematic organization and analysis of Forrest's plant specimens collected in China are crucial to understanding his impact on botanical classification, Rhododendrons introduction, global horticulture, and plant propagation. This study aims to systematically organize and analyze the plant specimens collected by George Forrest in China to investigate the family, genus, and species composition of the collected specimens and the seven collection expeditions of Forrest in China, as well as the time and altitude of these collections. Furthermore, it seeks to discuss Forrest's scientific contributions to the global spread of plants, the widespread application of the Rhododendron, and his impact on the development of modern gardens, providing a theoretical basis and data reference for related research and professional development. To this end, we extensively consulted important historical literature related to Forrest and systematically collected data from online specimen databases. The conclusions drawn from the available data include 38,603 specimens, with 26,079 collection numbers, belonging to 233 families, 1395 genera, and 5426 species, which account for 48.24%, 32.63%, and 14.17% of the plant families, genera, and species in China, respectively. Rhododendron specimens made up 17.20% of the specimens collected in this study. The collection locations cover three provinces or autonomous regions, 11 prefecture-level cities, and 25 counties. Furthermore, we found that Forrest's collections were concentrated in spring and summer, mainly in high-altitude areas, with 135 species found below 1500 m and 3754 species at 1500 m and above. Rhododendron specimens were mostly found above 3000 m.

Otoliths of the Gobiidae from the Neogene of tropical America

Otoliths are common and diverse in the Neogene of tropical America. Following previous studies of Neogene tropical American otoliths of the lanternfishes (Myctophidae), marine catfishes (Ariidae), croakers (Sciaenidae), and cusk-eels (Ophidiiformes), we describe here the otoliths of the gobies (Gobiidae). The Gobiidae represent the richest marine fish family, with more than 2000 species worldwide and about 250 in America. In the fossil record too they are the species richest family in the Neogene of tropical America. We have investigated otoliths sampled from Ecuador, Pacific and Atlantic Panama, Atlantic Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and Trinidad, ranging in age from late Early Miocene (late Burdigalian) to late Early Pleistocene (Calabrian). Most of the studied material originates from the collection expeditions of the Panama Paleontology Project (PPP). Our study represents the first comprehensive record of fossil gobies from America, and we recognize 107 species, of which 51 are new to science, 35 are in open nomenclature, and 19 represent species that also live in the region today. Previously, only two fossil otolith-based goby species have been described from the Neogene of tropical America. The dominant gobies in the fossil record of the region are from the Gobiosomatini, particularly of genera living over soft bottoms or in deeper water such as Bollmannia, Microgobius, Antilligobius, and Palatogobius. Another purpose of our study is to provide a first comprehensive account of otoliths of the extant Gobiidae of America, which we consider necessary for an adequate identification and interpretation of the Neogene otoliths. We studied otoliths of 130 extant American gobiid species and figured 106 of them for comparison. We also present a morphological analysis and characterization of the extant otoliths as a basis for the identification of fossil otoliths. Problems that commonly arise with the identification of fossil otoliths and specifically of fossil goby otoliths are addressed and discussed. A comparison of the history of the Gobiidae in tropical America reveals a high percentage of shared species between the Pacific and the Atlantic basins during the Late Miocene (Tortonian and Messinian) from at least 11 to 6 Ma. A recording gap on the Pacific side across the Pliocene allows a comparison again only in the late Early Pleistocene (Calabrian, 1.8 to 0.78 Ma), which shows a complete lack of shared species. These observations support the effective closure of the former Central American Seaway and emersion of the Isthmus of Panama in the intervening time. Groups that today only exist in the East Pacific were also identified in the Miocene and Pliocene of the West Atlantic, and there is also at least one instance of a genus now restricted to the West Atlantic having occurred in the East Pacific as late as the Pleistocene. The evolution of gobies in tropical America and the implications thereof are extensively discussed. Furthermore, observations of fossil gobies in the region are discussed in respect to paleoenvironmental indications and paleobiogeographic aspects.

A threshold model of plastic waste fragmentation: New insights into the distribution of microplastics in the ocean and its evolution over time

Plastic pollution in the aquatic environment has been assessed for many years by ocean waste collection expeditions around the globe or by river sampling. While the total amount of plastic produced worldwide is well documented, the amount of plastic found in the ocean, the distribution of particles on its surface and its evolution over time are still the subject of much debate. In this article, we propose a general fragmentation model, postulating the existence of a critical size below which particle fragmentation becomes extremely unlikely. In the frame of this model, an abundance peak appears for sizes around 1 mm, in agreement with real environmental data. Using, in addition, a realistic exponential waste feed to the ocean, we discuss the relative impact of fragmentation and feed rates, and the temporal evolution of microplastics (MP) distribution. New conclusions on the temporal trend of MP pollution are drawn.

Mineviku kogemust uurides. Rüiteki näide / Studying past experience. The case of rüi blanket

This article examines the unique type of blanket used in Hiiumaa, the rüi. Presumably the rüi blanket is related to the Swedish and West Finnish fringed rugs woven with the ryijy technique on looms. In contrast to the ryijy technique, the Hiiumaa rüi does not have yarn piles sown into it, but the hairy top layer is made of rug rags (nukud) sown onto the base blanket. According to archival records, the rüi imitated fur, which made the blanket exceptionally warm and could be worn at night in cold conditions (e.g. on a sea voyage, sleeping in a meadow). In Hiiumaa, rüis were still made until the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, when the continuity of blanket making ceased. The aim of this article is to present the historical background of the rüi blanket, to describe the process of making of a rüi blanket reconstruction, and to compile stories of experiences from people who slept under the rüi reconstruction. Although this type of blanket was still very common in Hiiumaa in the 19th century, only two exemplary blankets are known to have survived to the present day. A rüi of rather poor condition is preserved in the Estonian National Museum (ERM A 332: 4). During a collection expedition to Hiiumaa in 1901, the Finnish ethnologist Axel Olai Heikel (1851–1924) brought one of the rüis also to the Finnish National Museum (SU 4002: 269). In addition to the few specimens, many written records have fortunately survived from the beginning of the 20th century of how the rüi was made and used. Most of the written records are preserved in the Ethnographic Archive (EA) and Correspondents’ Reply (KV) of the Estonian National Museum. Rüi blankets have been used in different places in Hiiumaa, but they had one purpose – to protect against cold. The blanket was taken to the meadows (it was used to sleep under a hayloft), and it was also used as a boat blanket, although the rüi was mainly used to sleep under at home during the cold season, as just a blanket was rarely warm (ERMA EA 20: 1, 193). In addition to its very practical properties, the rüi also had a wider social significance, as it was part of the dowry of a Hiiumaa bride. Communal work bees were organised to make the blanket and even in the 19th century, the gifts brought to the bride still included clothes suitable for making shreds (nukud). A recurring theme throughout the period of reconstruction was the weight of the rüi blanket. It has been noted that the blanket was so heavy that a sick man could not even carry it and that children grew tired under it. It is recorded from Pühalepa that the blanket could have weighed up to one pood (16,381 kg). In addition, I wanted to add value to the reconstructed blanket through stories of experience. Very many ethnographic descriptions leave the impression that the rüi was very heavy and unusually warm. My desire was to find out how people in the 21st century reflect the experience of sleeping under a blanket that was common in the 19th century. Does it get cold, does the blanket prickle, is it too heavy, etc.? In its finished form, the rüi reconstruction weighs 8,1 kg, half the target weight. The rüi blanket deposited in Finland weighs 7 kg (+/– 1 kg), which calls into question the veracity of the archival record rather than the physical shortcomings of the reconstruction. Three men slept under the rüi reconstruction between 7–13 September 2021, when the night-time temperature was around +10ºC. The participants of the experiment pointed out that the blanket absorbed moisture very well and they didn’t get wet even when sleeping on the ground. The people sleeping under the rüi did not mention that the blanket was too heavy or too warm. Through the process of studying and making a rüi, a significant number of people took part in the intangible heritage of the Hiiumaa people – their skills, knowledge, and experience. The finished blanket is part of the collections of Hiiumaa Museums (HKM 6648:1 Tst 8:22), thus providing an opportunity to familiarise oneself with the item and use the information also for future generations. Keywords: sea blanket, rüi, handicraft techniques, reconstruction, practice-based research, user experience

Шлях зоолога Срібної доби: практики польової роботи, добування і колекціонування матеріалу

The article is an essay on the formation and development of professional zoological research in Ukraine, with a focus on the study of terrestrial vertebrates, especially mammals, in particular during long-distance and long-term expeditionary trips and under conditions of stationary field research at biological stations. The heyday of such research is equated to the well-known renaissance of cultural processes of the late 19th and first third of the 20th century, but in field zoology such processes continued throughout the second third of the 20th century. The key features of the zoologists and field zoology of the Silver Age were constant (in fact, year-round) route excursions around the vicinity of large cities or various types of biological stations, as well as long-distance wagon-type collective expeditions, constant presence in nature with a gun more than with any type of trap, high specialisation on objects that could be obtained by shooting and were not small-sized and generally traditional hunting targets, linking the objectives of expeditions to material collection more than to observations (and, in fact, feedback, i.e. justification of expedition goals by the needs of collections accumulation). Special attention is paid to the traditional methods and volumes of material collecting. The changes in the practices of large expeditions and the factors of their extinction are considered. In particular, the latter is associated not so much with the disappearance of the need for material as with changes in the tasks of its analysis and the emergence of alternative, primarily live methods of studying certain species, as well as a departure from paradigmatic guidelines for describing and analysing the biotic diversity of regions and revising the taxonomy of groups and studying species variability using traditional systems of features, criteria, and approaches. The article analyses the value of the samples collected during the Silver Age and the tasks, motives and sources of enriching modern collections after the loss of the classical system of mass collection of morphological material.

Rediscovery of Thottea philippinensis(Aristolochiaceae) from Naga‐Kabasalan Protected Landscape, Zamboanga Sibugay including the confirmation on the occurrence ofT. tomentosain the Philippines

Collecting expeditions carried out in the Zamboanga Peninsula of western Mindanao (Philippines) led to the rediscovery of Thottea philippinensis, previously known only by a single collection made 93 years ago. Here we provide an extended description, comments on the affinities among closely related species, an updated geographical distribution, habitat information, conservation assessment, and the first‐ever published photos of living T. philippinensis in the wild. Additionally, the occurrence of T. tomentosa in the Philippine archipelago is confirmed.

The Diptera of Lesotho: a history of collecting in the Mountain Kingdom, summary of recent collecting sites and introduction to the topical collection in African Invertebrates

The Kingdom of Lesotho in southern Africa is entirely bordered by South Africa, with which it shares many geological and vegetation types, but the vast extent of alpine vegetation and high altitudes suggests that differences in insect diversity should be expected. Globally, the Diptera are one of the most diverse orders of insects, though biodiversity estimates for the order are lacking for many regions. Here, we present a summary of the limited historical Diptera collections from Lesotho, summarise our collecting expeditions in 2021, 2022 and 2023, and provide photographs and descriptions of the collecting sites. This paper is the first of a series of papers in a Topical Collection of the Diptera of Lesotho in African Invertebrates. We hope to stimulate more research on Afrotropical Diptera and to improve their conservation in Lesotho in particular.

Eco-geographic Survey, In-situ Characterization and Spatial Analysis of Phenotypic Traits Diversity among the Maize Landraces Collected from Chhattisgarh

Exploration and germplasm collection expedition undertaken in the three districts of Chhattisgarh state in the present study resulted in the collection of 43 diverse local maize genotypes. The collected accessions were characterized in-situ on a farmer’s field for six ear and seed-specific quantitative characters and the recorded data was analyzed for quantification and analysis of the genetic variability among the accessions. Significant variability was recorded in all the studied traits viz. ear length (7.33–26.67 cm), ear girth(8.00–16.33 cm), number of kernel rows per ear (8-18), number of kernels per ear row (12.67–45.33), ear weight (25.45–204.88 g) and 100 kernel weight (9.74–38.66 g). The first three components explained 99.61% of the total variation; the first principal component represented 97.33%. Cluster analysis based on Euclidean distances classified 43 maize genotypes into five clusters with clustering together of 9, 18, 13, 2 and 1 accessions. Geo-referencing analysis of recorded data was done using DIVA-GIS software. The diversity pattern of maize germplasm accessions revealed by the grid maps confirmed the existence of considerable genetic diversity for all the six quantitative traits in the surveyed area also discussed in this study.

A new species of mailed catfish of genus Rhadinoloricaria (Siluriformes: Loricariidae: Loricariinae) from Rio Negro basin, Brazil.

During a recent collection expedition to the Rio Negro, in the state of Amazonas, Brazil, eight individuals of an unknown species were collected, with a combination of characteristics that placed the species in the genus Rhadinoloricaria. Furthermore, the presence of two autapomorphic characteristics, including numerous elongated papillae on the lower lip and unbranched barbelets on the margin of lower lip, suggests that it is a new species. From morphological and phylogenetic analyses, including the sequencing of specific genes to calculate the maximum likelihood analyses, coupled with osteological computed tomography (CT) scan analyses, the authors corroborated that the specimens represent a new species of Rhadinoloricaria, described in the present study.

Anthropology, Opportunity, and Empire: Collecting Expeditions in Sarawak and the Philippines, 1898–1909

This article examines several collecting expeditions to the Philippines and Sarawak, Borneo between 1898 and 1909. Collectors on these expeditions collected Indigenous cultural objects, human remains, anthropological data, and natural specimens in order to build up museum collections in Sarawak, England, and the United States. This article argues that to varying degrees, these expeditions were all directly or indirectly supported by imperial power, through funding, logistical aid, protection, or by the use of Indigenous labor. These collectors were informed by imperial ethnographers and collecting guides and shaped their collecting goals accordingly. They attempted to preserve objects and specimens they deemed to be in threat of disappearing due to increasing Western imperial influences. These collectors utilized this salvage rhetoric and the structures of empire to attempt to gain social mobility and professional prestige as anthropology developed as a discipline in the early twentieth century.

A New Species of Anthurium (Araceae) From the Amazon Domain

Abstract— During a collection expedition on the banks of the Inauiní River, in Terra Firme Forest, near the town of Boca do Acre, Amazonas State, an unknown species of Anthurium with the shortest known spadix was found. It is described and illustrated here as a new species, Anthurium bovinii. Additional information on phenology, ecology, distribution, and comparison with closely related taxa are presented.

Collection of native Theobroma cacao L. accessions from the Ecuadorian Amazon highlights a hotspot of cocoa diversity

Societal Impact Statement“Fine flavor” cocoa, known for its superior flavor and aroma, commands a higher price for farmers than “bulk” cocoa produced for market. These fine flavor cocoa varieties make an important contribution to the agricultural sector in Ecuador. However, cocoa diversity is threatened by deforestation. The effective preservation, characterization, and use of cocoa tree diversity are therefore essential to the future development of this market. We carried out participatory collection surveys with local communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon Forest, to evaluate the genetic diversity of native cocoa trees and protect trees as a resource for local communities. Accessing this wealth of diversity will aid farmers to safeguard cocoa against climate change and develop new varieties for market.Summary The aromatic Nacional variety of Theobroma cacao, emblematic of Ecuador, is highly sought after by the chocolate industry. The modern Nacional is a hybrid population resulting from genetic admixture that has lost the specificity of the ancestral variety. In the context of progressive forest disappearance, the objective of our study was to collect, safeguard, and evaluate native aromatic cocoa trees from Ecuadorian Amazon areas previously identified as areas of origin of the Nacional variety, as well as those that extend toward the northern Amazon. Four collection expeditions were organized in the Ecuadorian Amazon provinces of Zamora‐Chinchipe, Morona‐Santiago, and Pastaza in close collaboration with local communities. A total of 283 native accessions were collected and safeguarded at experimental stations and in local communities. The genetic diversity of the cocoa trees was analyzed by comparison to known genetic groups with a set of 48 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. This new collection clearly enriches the currently known diversity and improves knowledge of the global genetic structure of cocoa trees. Our results clarify the geographic origin of the Nacional variety in the vicinity of an archeological site that housed a Maya Chinchipe population that consumed cacao 5,000 years ago. In addition, our analyses revealed clues to the origin of Criollo, another ancient variety with a fine flavor. These new genetic resources will be used in breeding programs for the varietal improvement of new aromatic cocoa varieties and more globally for the selection of new varieties adapted to environmental changes.

Flora of the Serra do Cachimbo (Eastern Amazon, Brazil): Bambusoideae (Poaceae), including the description of two new species

This paper is a floristic and taxonomic treatment of the native bamboos from the Serra do Cachimbo, Eastern Amazon, Brazil. Two collection expeditions were carried out in 2019 and 2021, in addition to the analysis of materials from herbaria. Ten genera and 17 species were found. Descriptions, identification keys, distribution and habitat data, taxonomic comments, and photographs are provided, along with illustrations and conservation status assessment for two new species. The most speciose genus was Olyra (four species), followed by Raddiella (three), Arthrostylidium (two), and Pariana (two); Actinocladum, Eremocaulon, Guadua, Merostachys, Parodiolyra, and Taquara were represented by one species each. Four species are here recorded for the first time for the states of Pará (Arthrostylidium simpliciusculum and Eremocaulon capitatum) and Mato Grosso (Pariana radiciflora and P. zingiberina). We also designate a lectotype for the basionym of E. capitatum and describe two new taxa to science: Arthrostylidium cachimboense and Merostachys cachimboensis.

Modeling the Distribution of Wild Cotton Gossypium aridum in Mexico Using Flowering Growing Degree Days and Annual Available Soil Water

Climate change is expected to alter species distribution and habitat composition, with wild species being particularly vulnerable. Gossypium aridum, a wild cotton species in Mexico, has shown a decrease in habitat extent and population; however, the data are not precise. The objectives of this study are: (1) to develop a distribution model of G. aridum in Mexico, (2) to identify areas with environmental conditions similar to where the species currently maintains populations, and (3) to determine which variable, flowering growing degree days (FGDD) or annual available soil water (AASW, mm year−1), has greater influence on the distribution of the species. Geographic information system (GIS) software was used with datasets from two databases in Mexico that were partitioned for site characterization, model construction, calibration, validation, and sensitivity analysis. The range of 330–860 FGDD and 4–110 mm year−1 AASW best described the species habitat, according to results of seven precision and accuracy statistical tests. The model identified geographic regions throughout the country with similar conditions as the locations where the species has been observed, including some where no collections have not yet been registered in Mexican databases. FGDD, rather than AASW, showed greater influence on the distribution of the species. The generated information can be used to guide collection expeditions for G. aridum and to study climatic impact on species distribution. The approach using FGDD and AASW can be used in the modeling of wild cotton species that are valuable natural resources for crop improvement.

Cuphea (Lythraceae) in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Abstract The present work aims to provide a discussed floristic treatment for Cuphea (Lythraceae) from the Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Morphological, ecological and geographic distribution data were obtained through the revision of several herbaria and from collection expeditions. A morphological analysis of the seeds under scanning electron microscopy and a preliminary assessment of the conservation status of the species were included. As a result, 12 native species and one variety were recorded for Rio Grande do Sul, often found in wet to dry grasslands of the Pampa biome. Cuphea campylocentra, C. linifolia and C. lysimachioides were preliminarily classified as threatened according to the categories and criteria of IUCN, joining C. confertiflora, which was officially cited in the List of threatened flora in Rio Grande do Sul. This study provides an identification key, illustrations, maps, morphological descriptions, and comments on the ecology, taxonomy, and geographic distribution of the Cuphea species in Rio Grande do Sul state.

On the nests, eggs, and reproductive evidence of Tyrian Metaltail (Metallura tyrianthina) and Glowing Puffleg (Eriocnemis vestita) in the northeastern Colombian Andes

The reproductive biology of tropical hummingbirds has been documented and studied in only a small fraction of species relative to the great diversity of this group. Little has been written about breeding biology of hummingbirds at the Northern Andes Eastern Cordillera in Colombia. We present detailed information on the dates, nesting locations, construction materials, measurements of nests and eggs, and gonad development of adult specimens to augment the scant reproductive data available of 2 widely distributed highland hummingbirds, the Tyrian Metaltail (Metallura tyrianthina) and the Glowing Puffleg (Eriocnemis vestita). These data were obtained during multi-taxa collection expeditions in the high-elevation region of the Department of Boyacá, Colombia. We found 2 Tyrian Metaltail nests in February and May, and adults with enlarged gonads in August. The single Glowing Puffleg nest was found in October, adults with enlarged gonads in May and October, and a chick mortality event (possibly due to frost) in November. Nesting sites for both species were in banks where they built 2-layered cup nests. Although nest locations and construction materials were similar to what has been reported before for hummingbirds in these genera, we identified the plants of these nests' microhabitats, as well as the families and genera of liverworts, mosses, and others used as nest construction materials. The evidence of active nests and enlarged gonads of specimens collected in this study, together with observations made by previous authors, suggest that these 2 hummingbird species breed throughout most of the year at the northeastern Andes. Our data contributes to the understanding of the reproductive biology of these hummingbirds in this region.

<p class="western" align="justify"><strong><em>Piper</em> (Piperaceae) in eastern Northeast Brazil</strong></p>

Brazil is considered one of the richest countries in Piper species in South America, with the genus being considered one of the most representative of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. The aim of this study is to improve the knowledge about Piper in the northeastern region of Brazil, and to this end, we recorded the taxa that occur in the eastern portion of this region. Collection expeditions were conducted in the study area between August 2017 and July 2019, 21 herbaria were visited, and other internationally important collections were consulted online. Thirty tree taxa were registered, from which one was recorded for the northeastern region for the first time (P. nematanthera), besides 11 new records for at least one of the states. We present a synopsis with comments about morphology, habitat and phenology.

Status of the Ex Situ and In Situ Conservation of Brazilian Crop Wild Relatives of Rice, Potato, Sweet Potato, and Finger Millet: Filling the Gaps of Germplasm Collections

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.

Collecting and regenerating populations of the Allium ampeloprasum complex from Greece

Collecting expeditions are of prime importance to acquire genetically unique material, as for many crops and their wild relatives, large gaps are present in collections worldwide. This is also true for the three species of the Allium ampeloprasum complex, native to Greece, which are considered as the crop wild relatives of cultivated leek ( ). Therefore, a collecting expedition was carried out in Greece in 2009. A total of 62 populations of A. ampeloprasum, 20 populations of A. , 19 populations of A. and three mixed species populations were sampled. The sampled populations were mostly small (less than 50 plants), but sometimes large populations (more than 10,000 plants) were encountered, especially for A. . Two different reproduction systems were observed in A. ampeloprasum, which is probably due to level differences. The sexual type was predominantly found along cultivated fields, whereas the asexual type occurred in abandoned fields together with (L). and Cistus . Regeneration protocols were developed for these species as the of cultivated leek is different from its wild relatives. Regenerating A. ampeloprasum was more difficult compared to the other two species. Ten years after the collecting mission only one-third of the collected material has been regenerated. This is partly due to the characteristics of the material and partly because the Dutch collectors and the Greek competent national authorities on Access and Benefit Sharing were not able to conclude a specific arrangement which also involved the commercial use of the material.

Sustainability and Genetic Diversity of Under-exploited African Plants: A Collection Expedition in Nigeria - Facts, Challenges and Prospects

Plant genetic diversity loss particularly of under-utilized species threatens several developmental goals in Africa. Preferred safeguard strategies and techniques have failed in stemming this situation exacerbated by dearth in global information and poor research attention on such species amongst other pitfalls. The study involved an expedition to; generate eco-geographical and related information on 30 under-utilized species; evaluate the prevailing situations for collection exercises in Nigeria, in the attempt to instigate globally relevant researches, conservation and sustainable partnerships. A two-phased systematic field survey (North and South) employing a 50 km regular transect distance, covering the wet and dry seasons, a cumulative distance of 8168 km, 192 communities in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria. Collection diversity was determined with Simpson’s Diversity index (1-D) as well as species abundance. 703 accessions of 30 plants species were collected. 13% of the total species (16% -South; 40% - North) were common to both regions. High diversity (D = 8) was recorded for the collection. The wetter southern states were significantly more diverse (D = 0.7- 0.9) than the north. The north west and some south eastern state recorded lesser diversity and the FCT the least (D = 0). 6 species recorded significant species abundance across the study area. The study area is heavily imparted yet houses a considerable diversity of the species surveyed. It is imperative to pursue integrated strategies to harness the plentiful flora as well as cultural resources resident therein. The species studied can be employed to tackle the challenges of climate change, livelihood, economy, food and nutrition security and farmer/grazers/construction activity unrest.