Gorbunov Y.N., Molkanova O.I., Egorova D.A., Shirnina I.V., Vasilyeva O.G.

Ex situ conservation of plant species of the Red Book of Russia in botanical gardens

Russian botanical gardens are actively involved in the conservation of rare and endangered plants. They pay special attention to the species included in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. At present, 377 species of higher plants are cultivated in living collections of botanical gardens out of 514 species presented in the Red Book of Russia, which is 73%. Thus, the Russian Federation has practically met the requirement of goal 8 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. The vast majority of rare plant species are represented by samples in the collections of many botanical gardens and the reliability of their protection under cultural conditions is beyond doubt. In the Main Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences, an in vitro collection of rare and endangered plants is preserved, including 82 species, which is 17.3% of the total number of angiosperms included in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. As a result of many years of research, the features of the cultivation and preservation of ex situ plants belonging to different families have been revealed. The main methodological aspects at the stages of obtaining a sterile culture, micropropagation proper and long-term deposition are reflected. The compositions of nutrient media and cultivation factors were optimized for slowed growth of explants of the studied cultures and preservation of their viability.

Keywords:RARE AND ENDANGERED PLANT SPECIES, RED BOOK OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION, EX SITU CONSERVATION, LONG-TERM IN VITRO CONSERVATION