Greek Tulips: Worldwide Electronic Trade over the Internet, Global Ex Situ Conservation and Current Sustainable Exploitation Challenges

From an ornamental viewpoint, tulips are famous clonally propagated crops. This research focuses on 15 wild-growing Greek tulip species including 11 range-restricted species, i.e., six Greek endemics and five Balkan or Aegean endemics and subendemics, among which seven are currently threatened with extinction (two Critically Endangered, three Endangered and two Vulnerable). An overview of the global electronic trade over the internet is presented herein for these valuable phytogenetic resources in an attempt to define the extent of their commercialization (25 nurseries in three countries, mainly bulb trade at various prices) with concomitant conservation implications. In the frame of the repatriation initiatives launched, their global ex situ conservation is overviewed according to the PlantSearch facility of the Botanic Gardens Conservation International (materials from 15 species stored in 41 botanic gardens of 14 countries). The results of this study on the Greek tulips showed that there are both well-established value chains and gaps in the market regarding the “botanical tulips”; revealed the compromised effectiveness of ex situ conservation for the majority of them; raised conservation concerns related to authorized access to these wild phytogenetic resources; and indicated that their future utilization should comply with the provision of national and international legislation. All these are envisaged and discussed within the framework of the newly launched research project TULIPS.GR which aims to be the pilot establishment of a national collection regarding all Greek tulips (currently holding 38 accessions of 13 species, including almost all of the threatened ones). The project’s scope is to enable the creation of a sustainable value chain for the Greek tulips with authorized collections, sustainable conservation schemes, production of DNA barcoded propagation material, species-specific propagation and cultivation protocols, mycorrhizal investigations, field studies, applying innovative precise soil/foliar fertigation, and investigation of the postharvest treatment of fresh cut flowers, promoting networking and synergies with producers and associations in Greece and abroad.

The Agronomy of Mauka (Mirabilis expansa (Ruíz & Pav.) Standl.) - A Review

The Andean region is the centre of origin and domestication of at least 9 species of native root and tuber crops in addition to several species of native potatoes. Within this group, Mauka – also known as Miso or Taso ‒ (Mirabilis expansa Ruíz & Pav.) Standl. ‒ Nyctaginaceae) is one of the least well known, despite having much potential. It is cultivated at high altitudes (2300 to 3500 m a.s.l.) in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia and is thought to be of pre-Inca origin. Mauka is characterized by its high nutritional value due to substantial levels of protein, calcium and phosphorus, as well as secondary metabolites with nutraceutical properties of varied application. It also has good potential as a forage plant. Based on ethnobotanical knowledge and scientific investigations, this review presents advances in the agronomic understanding of Mauka since its discovery five decades ago in several isolated rural Bolivian communities. The information presented covers both Andean and non-Andean countries. It includes results from journals on natural resources, botany, agronomy, and the congress minutes from botanical, agronomic and phytogenetic resources conferences. Theses on Mauka specifically and on phytogenetic resources in general were also reviewed. Books and manuals were reviewed in the libraries of the International Potato Center, INIAP-Ecuador, INIA-Peru and universities. The plant is described with emphasis on its agronomic traits and according to its propagation forms (seed or vegetative); in terms of its agroecology, phenology, growth dynamics and their indices, crop management, harvest and post-harvest processes. It is concluded that important advances in the understanding of the agronomy of Mauka have been accomplished. Furthermore, the review highlights aspects requiring further research, in order to develop improved production technologies to ensure its future use and conservation.

Diversity of used plant species for producing charcoal and its trade-off in Far-North Region, Cameroon

The Northern Regions of Cameroon belong to sudano-zambesian region. In these regions, woody species are scarce compared to Guinean-Congolese Region and they undergo the human pressure like abusive exploitation of plants. In order to contribute to valorization of phytogenetic resources and contribute to struggle desert progression in sahelian region, a study on plants diversity which are used to produce charcoal and its trade-off was carried out in Far-North Region of Cameroon. Census of plants species was made on the basis of semi-structured surveys through the producers of charcoal and identification of tree trunks on the sites of charcoal production. Data of trade of charcoal was collected by direct observation and a semi-structured survey questionnaire in Maroua. In total, 25 species grouped in 17 genera and 8 families have been recorded. Acacia and Combretum were the richest genera with four species each. They were quoted as multipurpose species which can be used elsewhere as fruits, timbers, medicinal plants or essential oils and exudates. In Maroua almost, 98 % of households use charcoal for heating. In the absence of the charcoal, up to 60 % of those use firewood, 18.46 % use domestic gas and 18.46% use kerosene. Because of poverty and unemployment, people of primary education are mostly charcoal sellers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTVolume-6, Issue-2, Mar-May 2017, Page: 19-29

Colecta y establecimiento de anonáceas en El Salvador.

The national center of agricultural and forest technology (CENTA), through its unit of phytogenetic resources, under took a collecting survey of annonacea species in 1998, with the objective of exploring, collect, characterize and establish collections in the experimental stations. This survey was carried out at a national level visiting properties and markets. Evaluated traits for fruits were: weight , lenght and diameter, number of seeds, texture of shell and pulp, form of fruit and carpels, damage for pests and diseases. It also was carried out a bromatological analysis. As a result of the survey a collection was established with these species: squamosa, cherimola, reticulata, muricata, purpurea, diversifolia, holosericea and glabra. The morphological characterization Annona muricata showed an average of 175 seeds per fruit and an average weight of 1,319 grames per fruit. A. cherimola showed a very sandy pulp and non-prominent carpels. A. squamosa showed a sweet pulp, white and very prominent carpels. According to the bromatological characterization Annona muricata showed the higher humidity (82.8%), 1.84% of crude fiber, 367ppm of phosphorus. Annona diversifolia showed the lowest fat content of 0.01%. The highest pests was caused by Bephrateloides sp. and by Colletotrichum sp. in fruits and foliage.