Modeling the potential distribution of Valeriana carnosa Sm. in Argentinean Patagonia: A proposal for conservation and in situ cultivation considering climate change projections

Abstract

Over recent years species distribution models have been used for the identification of suitable cultivation zones for native plant species. Valeriana carnosa is one of the most frequently used native plants in Patagonian popular medicine, its underground organs being obtained from natural populations. Considering the growing market demand, it is now necessary to design strategies for the cultivation and conservation of this valuable species. In this study, Ecological Niche Modeling (ENM) using the Maxent model was used to predict potential geographical distributions of V. carnosa under current and future climatic conditions and considering the projected climate changes for the next fifty years in Argentinean Patagonia. Results showed that by 2070 it is expected that 22 % of the area with climatic conditions suited to V. carnosa will be lost. Most of these areas lie in the steppe region, and the remaining geographic areas with suitable climatic conditions will be found mainly in the Cordillera and Pre-Cordillera regions. We identified five endangered V. carnosa populations in Patagonia. This study provides a novel tool for planning in situ cultivation of V. carnosa and preserving genetic material from endangered populations, considering the climate projections for the coming decades in Patagonia.

Pollen morphology of selected taxa of Valeriana (Caprifoliaceae): taxonomic and evolutionary implications

“…Valeriana is the largest genus in tribe Valerianeae and comprises ca. 200-250 species distributed throughout much of the world (except Australia and New Zealand), mostly at high elevations and with many species in alpine zones (Hidalgo et al 2004, Bell & Donoghue 2005, Jacobs et al 2010, Nagahama & Bonino 2020. Around the world several species of Valeriana are used for medicinal purposes, since their underground organs contain various compounds with sedative and relaxing…”

Influence of the Environment on the Distribution and Quality of Gentiana dahurica Fisch.

“…Because of its broad range of applications, the unsustainable collection of wild G. dahurica increased rapidly. In 1987, G. dahurica was identified as a national wild protected plant by China, and artificial cultivation became the only legal source of G. dahurica ( Huang et al, 2011 ; Nagahama, and Bonino, 2020 ). Although the government of Inner Mongolia has introduced policies to promote the development of medicinal plant cultivation, the scaling up of G. dahurica cultivation still faces many difficulties.…”