Development of a network of genetic reserves for wild celery in Germany (GE-Sell)

Abstract

The genetic reserve conservation technique is a ready-to-use procedure for in situ conservation of crop wild relatives. The approach combines the dynamic conservation of populations exposed to evolutionary processes in their natural habitats with the static conservation of plant genetic resources in gene banks, thus enabling the sustainable use of these species. In the model and demonstration project "Genetic reserves for wild celery species (Apium and Helosciadium) as part of a network of genetic reserves in Germany" (GE-Sell) scientific and organisational aspects of the implementation of genetic reserves were investigated. The aim of the project was the establishment of 45 genetic reserves for wild celery species and the establishment of a nationwide network of local stakeholders. The monographic approach was used to identify the genetic reserves.

For the four wild celery species occurring in Germany, around 350 occurrences were selected from 2400 known sites for the verification of these occurrences at the project start in 2015. Thereafter, genetic diversity analyses were carried out for approximately 100 occurrences that are as vital as possible, non-endangered and distributed over various ecogeographic regions and habitat types. Based on the survey and analysis results, the project team selected between 11 and 15 occurrences per species, which together represent the intra-species diversity of the respective species best. For these occurrences, the project team aimed at the establishment and long-term management of the genetic reserves in cooperation with local stakeholders. By April 2020, 15 genetic reserves had already been established.