In a remarkable effort to preserve biodiversity, the Germplasm Bank of Wild Species in southwest China's Yunnan Province has achieved a significant milestone. As Asia's largest seed bank, it now safeguards over 11,000 types of wild plant seeds, according to the Kunming Institute of Botany under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
By the end of 2023, the seed bank had preserved more than 94,000 plant seeds across these species, housing seeds from over one-third of China’s wild plants. Cai Jie, director of the seed bank's germplasm collection center, highlighted the critical role of seeds in containing plant genetic information, making seed banks essential for conserving genetic resources.
Established in 2007, the seed bank is affectionately known as China's \"Noah's Ark\" for plants. It encompasses a comprehensive range of resources, including a seed pool, DNA bank, microbial bank, and animal germplasm resource bank. This facility stands out as a leading research and preservation center for rare and endangered plant species globally.
Cai emphasized that the seed bank not only preserves seeds but also maintains plant tissue materials, DNA, large fungi, microbial strains, and animal genetic resources. Equipped with advanced genetic resource databases and information-sharing systems, the bank integrates functional gene detection, cloning, and validation technologies.
One of the standout achievements of the germplasm bank is the creation of China's largest plant DNA barcode database and identification platform. Utilizing DNA barcoding technology, the bank has uncovered new and cryptic species within various taxa, including the Chinese yew, Chinese giant salamander, and several snake species. These discoveries are pivotal for national biosecurity and play a vital role in biodiversity conservation and sustainable utilization efforts in China.
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Asia's largest wildlife seed bank preserves over 11,000 plant species
cgtn.com
