Using Micropropagation to Conserve Threatened Rare Species in Sustainable Forests

Abstract

Abstract For forests to be sustainable, viable populations of rare plants should be maintained. Where habitat management alone cannot conserve species threatened by human activity, micropropagation may advance species recovery. Micropropagation protocols were developed for Pacific Northwest endemics; Hackelia venusta, Douglasia idahoensis, Astragalusspecies, and Cornus nuttallii.Mi-croshoots and seed were multiplied and rooted on nutrient media containing minimal levels of cytokinin and auxin growth regulators to maintain stable gene expression in plantlets. Acclimatized plant-lets were reintroduced to protected habitat or propagated for further environmental experiments. Micropropagation serves a useful off-site role in sustaining Pacific Northwest forests by maintaining viability of certain threatened rare plants.