Ex situconservation of bryophytes: progress and potential of a pilot project

Abstract

A pilot project was set up to investigate the potential use of ex situ techniques for the conservation of bryophytes by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the U.K. statutory conservation agencies (English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage and Countryside Council for Wales) in August 2000. Successful protocols have been established for the initiation of plants collected from their natural habitats into axenic culture from sporophytes, gemmae and leafy gametophores. Methods have also been established for the long-term storage of explants in liquid nitrogen (cryopreservation). The existing collection incorporates a number of British Red List species, and includes some European Red List taxa. Current work focuses on expanding the number of species in the collection, both in culture and in cryo-storage. Protocols for the weaning and introduction of bryophytes into their natural habitats after cryopreservation are under development and a priority of the project.