In Vitro Preservation of Spanish Biodiversity

Abstract

Spanish territories contain many of the hot spots of plant biodiversity among European countries. Most of the Spanish territory is found in the Mediterranean basin and in the Canary Islands, a region of great floral singularity and diversity (Macaronesian bioregion). Therefore, an important effort must be made to contribute to its conservation. Several strategies can be considered, but seed conservation under standard conditions is the most resource-efficient method. However, the application of this methodology is not always possible for recalcitrant seeds or species for which vegetative propagation is necessary or convenient under some circumstances. Micropropagation is one of the measures suggested for preserving endangered species. During the 1990s, several in vitro culture protocols for Spanish endemics were established. The main purpose of this strategy was to obtain a considerable number of individuals to reduce the loss of natural populations. Likewise, diverse slow growth protocols were developed for this material. However, these efforts usually did not lead to the establishment of in vitro collections. The advantages and disadvantages of the in vitro conservation strategy will be reviewed for some cases. The establishment of the in vitro protocols together with the development of cryopreservation techniques created the ideal conditions to generate cryogenic collections. In this paper, we review the knowledge and experience accumulated during the last decades in micropropagation, slow growth, and cryopreservation for Spanish plant wild species. Their application in the development ex situ collections and their contribution toward an integrated system to conserve threatened species will be discussed.

In vitro multiplication and essential oil composition of Thymus moroderi Pau ex Martinez, an endemic Spanish plant

“…In Spain, several species have been already preserved by means of these techniques (González-Benito et al 1999;González-Benito and Martín 2011), including endemism such as Astragalus nitidiflorus (Cano-Castillo et al 2009) or Helianthemum marminorense (Serrano-Martínez et al 2012).…”

Nuclear rDNA instability inin vitro-generated plants is amplified after sexual reproduction with conspecific wild individuals

“…In 1987, a single individual showing no signs of interspecific hybridization was found in eastern Spain (Pobla de Vallbona, Valencia) (Crespo & Mateo, 1988) and recovery plans were designed to create a new population in Valencia. This specimen was multiplied through in vitro culture (Arregui et al, 1993;Gonz alez-Benito & Mart ın, 2011) to obtain accessions suitable for reintroduction at a new site (Tancat de Portaceli, Valencia, Spain) (Laguna et al, 1998;Aguilella, Fos & Laguna, 2010).…”

An efficient in vitro regeneration system via callus from hypocotyl and root of Iris laevigata

“…Micropropagation is a method to regenerate new plants that can be used rapidly for ornamental horticulture applications. It is also a viable strategy for increasing the number of individuals ex-situ in order to save endangered species [12]. Moreover, the establishment of a callus regeneration system is also one of the basic conditions for plant genetic transformation and further development of plant genetic resources.…”