Implementing a project on indigenous plant conservation

Works to do right now

At the beginning of 2022, the People's Committee of Binh Dinh Province has approved a framework project on the conservation of genetic resources in the province by 2025. Accordingly, specializing agencies will apply the scientific technology in preserving genetic resources of some indigenous plant varieties such as upland rice, sticky rice, sticky corn, and sweet cassava, associated with economic development for rural women and ethnic minorities in the province.

Nature favors Binh Dinh with the richness and diversity of plants and animals including many rare and endemic species, especially plant genetic resources. For example, An Toan Nature Reserve in An Toan Commune, An Lao District, is inhabiting 547 species of high-level vascular plants belonging to 304 genera and 110 families; 300 animal species of 89 families and 28 orders of 4 classes of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.

In particular, among them, there are 10 species of plants and 72 species of rare and endangered animals listed in the Red Book of Vietnam. Moreover, in the Toan Nature Reserve are living 4 plant and 14 animal endemic species. In An Lao, there are also 2 species of precious orchids growing naturally in the forest.

However, the exploitation of natural resources in a form of "extinction" has seriously damaged biodiversity, causing degradation and decline for rare and precious flora and fauna species there. This has led to an ecological imbalance with a worry to gradually lose some rare genetic resources of plants and animals. In addition, climate change impacts have also contributed to making some rare animal species in danger of extinction. Indigenous plant varieties with precious genetic resources are also degraded or at risk of being "lost" in the wild nature.

To cope with that situation, the People's Committee of Binh Dinh has developed a framework project for the conservation of genetic resources in the province by 2025. The project aims to preserve 56 genetic resources of some special plant and microorganism species in the area, collect and evaluate the conservation status of 50 microbial and 6 endemic plant genetic resources. It also targets to identify ecological and environmental conditions affecting the growth and development of such genetic resources, at the same time, build conservation models and propose measures to protect and develop them.

In 2022, Binh Dinh will conduct genetic conservation for some indigenous plant varieties such as upland rice, sticky rice, sticky corn and sweet casava, associated with economic development for rural women and ethnic minorities. In 2023, it will continue to conserve the the nipa palm genetic resources so that to restore mangrove forests for eco-tourism and to deal with climate change.

“As it has been planned, Binh Dinh will preserve 6 genetic resources of some typical local plant and flower varieties, including dry rice varies of Ta Bul, Ba Bak, Ba Trang, and H'Ngok; glutinous corn, pure Ngu sticky rice, sweet casava and water coconut and dai chau orchids," said Dr. Le Cong Nhuong.

A pioneering unit in genetic conservation of dai chau orchids

The Agricultural Sciences Institute for Southern Coastal Central of Vietnam (ASISOV), a unit based in Binh Dinh Province, has recently, applied tissue transplant technology to preserve the genetic resources of rare and precious dai chau orchid (with scientific name as Rhynchostylis gigantea) that grows naturally in An Lao forest, Binh Dinh Province.

According to Dr. Vu Van Khue, ASISOV Deputy Director, the dai chau orchids are distributed in the high mountains from over 600m above sea level. It is now very popular in the market.

In the past, there were many orchids in the forest. Every year, in the 10th lunar month of the rainy season, the orchid seeds split into the forest and dispersed in the air but were hard to germinate under normal conditions. The germination rate in the wild was very low. If people brought seeds to nurse in normal conditions, the seeds could not germinate.

“Therefore, a research team from the Vegetables and Ornamental Trees of the ASISOV have collected the fruit, separated for seeds and then applied tissue-culture technology to preserve and develop that precious orchid lineage,” said Dr. Khue.

According to Mr. Le Duc Dung, Deputy Head of the Vegetables and Ornamental Trees Faculty of the ASISOV, the faculty has applied tissue culture technology to conserve genetic resources and develop dai chau orchid lines for 4 years now. When the seeds of orchids in nature are exhausted, the Faculty will select the tops, leaves, buds, or stems of healthy orchids that have self-pollinated flowers to propagate. It will also apply tissue culture technology to continue to multiply them.

The dai chau orchid is now almost "absent" in the wild due to over-exploitation thus an orchid plant cut down from the forest may cost up to VND2 million. Meanwhile, orchids grown by the ASISOV are only sold for VND300,000/plant.

“The main aim of applying the tissue culture technology in growing dai chau orchids is to conserve genetic resources and develop a rare orchid line. From the institute’s available orchid resources, in the coming time, we will choose the best plants, give the most beautiful flowers to raise for seeds, then apply tissue culture technology to continue multiplying them to provide to market…," said Dr. Vu Van Khue, Deputy Director of the ASISOV.

In the project on conservation of genetic resources of Binh Dinh province by 2025, the ASISOV was assigned by the provincial People's Committee as a premier unit in conserving, exploiting and developing genetic resources of some indigenous plant varieties such as upland rice, sticky rice, sticky corn and sweet cassava. The Institute is also assigned by the Committee in preserving and developing the An Lao dai chau orchid.