Artificially cultivated rare plant returns to wild

Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 22:23:24|Editor: zh
Video PlayerClose

HANGZHOU, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese researchers have sent three artificially bred Abies beshanzuensis seedlings back to the wild, in an effort to save the extremely endangered species.

The seedlings are now in their original home of Baishanzu National Nature Reserve in Qingyuan County, Zhejiang Province, according to the research team from Zhejiang University.

In the natural state, Abies fir and other pine plants breed their offspring mainly through seeds, but Abies beshanzuensis has some problems such as seed germination difficulties, and the seedling survival rate is very low.

The researchers studied the breeding of Abies beshanzuensis using embryo rescue technology and successfully obtained sterile test-tube plantlets with immature embryos, which effectively reduced the number of individuals who died from seed development disorders.

Professor Chen Liping, from the School of Agriculture and Biotechnology of Zhejiang University, said the embryo rescue technology could carry out "cesarean section" for embryos of the plant that have encountered developmental difficulties.

Embryos can be separated from the maternal body ahead of time and placed in artificial "incubators" for breeding to obtain new individuals, Chen said.

There are only three adult wild plants in the world, distributed in the mountain forests of Zhejiang's Qingyuan County at an altitude of more than 1,700 meters.

The plant has unique biological characteristics and high academic value in the study of flora and the impact of climate change.

TOP STORIES
EDITOR’S CHOICE
MOST VIEWED
EXPLORE XINHUANET
010020070750000000000000011100001380810111