Completion of ex situ collections – partial. Elaboration of the functional models for the in vitro preservation technologies – partial. Strengthening the Natura 2000 network based on project results
Period of 9 months: 01.01.2017 – 30.09.2017
PHASE 4/2017 SUMMARY
The objective of TEHNAT project is the adaptation and/or optimization of some biotechnologies of ex situ multiplication and conservation and of molecular techniques – SSR and ISSR – for 3 endemic/endangered Caryophyllaceae species: Lychnis nivalis Kit., endemic species for Rodnei Mts., considered rare and vulnerable, Silene dinarica Spreng, endemic for the South of Carpathian Mts., rare species and Moehringia jankae Griseb. ex Janka from the North of Dobrogea, considered rare and vulnerable. The species chorology and the in situ conservation condition of the species populations was done, as well as the elaboration, following project’s results, of several recommendations for the consolidation of Natura 2000 network.
Objectives of phase 4 were fully accomplished. All the institutions (4 public institutions and 1 company) belonging to the consortium were involved in all activities of this phase, a good collaboration between institutions was accomplished. In this phase 19 researchers were involved, 4 of them being young postdoc researchers.
The folllowing activities have been accomplished in this phase:
4.1. Development of functional model of in vitro technology for studied taxa - partially. This activity is continuing the act. 3.1. The functional model includes the technologies of ex vitro acclimatization of Lychis nivalis and Silene dinarica.
4.2. Achievement of functional model for long term in vitro conservation – crioconservation. In this activity, the functional model of crioconservation technology was achieved, all 3 species showed good reaction to crioconservation and all of them were regenerated after conservation in liquid nitrogen.
4.3. Achievement of stable ex situ collections. In this phase the ex situ collections (in vitro, green house and open air collections) were finalised for all 3 species.
4.4. Processing the documentation of strength directives of Natura 2000 network. In case of L. nivalis this species is considered as vulnerable, even if in present there are several area in wich this plant species has significant populations. Thus, the monitoring of this species is reccomended. S. dinarica, a plant species charactersitic for alpin region, cold climat, seems to be vulnerable to the effects of global warming, but the degree of vulnerability could be better studied by understanding their physiological limits. Thus, we reccomend additional studies for the degree of their vulnerability. Regarding the species M. jankae, consolidation of Natura 2000 network in Dobrogea could be accomplished by extension of ROSCI0123 Munţii Măcin site area, in south part with about 22 ha, where this species was found.
4.5. Evaluation of in situ conservation of taxa – partially. This activity is continuing the act. 3.4 for phase 3; 24 new locations were identified for L. nivalis and 30 new plotts for M. jankae.
4.6. Demonstration of the funcțional model of several molecular techniques for some of taxa in order to evaluate the genetic variability (somaclonal variability). The analysis of genetic stability/variability of all 3 species by mean of SSR and ISSR markers, after in vitro conservation, showed that there are no genetic diferences. The analysis of ISSR markers in M. jankae after medium term conservation showed that there is no somaclonal variability as well.
In conclusion, plants generated by in vitro collections, with or without medium term conservation could be used for development of several ornamental collections and repopulation of natural habitats if necessary.
The results of this phase are: 1 new technology (and finalization of other 3 technologies that were developed in phase 3); 2 products; 6 participations to conferences, 2 of them being international conferences, all of them having published abstracts (see Aknowledgement); 2 ISI articles accepted for publication; 1 ISI submitted article.