6533b854fe1ef96bd12aec8c

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Innovative In Situ and Ex Situ Conservation Strategies of the Madonie Fir Abies nebrodensis

Arcangela FrascellaGianni Della RoccaSara BarberiniGiovanni EmilianiStefano SecciMaurizio LambardiCarla BenelliWaed TarrafTolga IzguRosario SchicchiMaria Antonietta GermanàNourhene JouiniFilippo AmatoGiuseppe Di NotoGaetano La PlacaAnna GeraciPeppuccio BonomoMontserrat AristaFrancisco BalaoAnass TerrabJose C. Del ValleVincenzo Lo MeoRoberto Danti

subject

seed bankSettore BIO/01 - Botanica GeneraleSettore AGR/03 - Arboricoltura Generale E Coltivazioni ArboreeRenewable Energy Sustainability and the EnvironmentSettore BIO/02 - Botanica SistematicaGeography Planning and DevelopmentSettore BIO/03 - Botanica Ambientale E ApplicataMediterranean firBuilding and ConstructioncryobankManagement Monitoring Policy and LawreforestationMediterranean fir; cryobank; seed bank; reforestation

description

Abies nebrodensis (Lojac.) Mattei is an endemic species of the north-west of Sicily located in an 84 ha area in the Madonie Regional park. The current population is limited to 30 relic adult trees and a fluctuating number of juveniles of natural regeneration. The species is defined as “Critically Endangered” in the Italian list of threatened plants and is classified as CR-D in the 2000 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This article reports the key action undertaken by the LIFE4FIR project aimed at preserving A. nebrodensis, and the results obtained so far in three years of activity. OpenArrays SNPs genotyping revealed a high rate of inbreeding in the natural population and that the adult trees are genetically related. Controlled cross-pollination was consequently performed to increase the genetic variability of the progeny. Outbred offspring are currently being grown in the nursery. Reforestation has been planned by using 4000 selected outbred seedlings in 10 areas within Madonie Park to create re-diffusion cores. Support and protection of the relic population have been implemented through regular phytosanitary surveys, as well as new fencing and video surveillance systems against grazing and wild herbivores. A seedbank and cryobank for the long-term germplasm conservation have been established.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2022-10-05
10.3390/su141912643https://hdl.handle.net/10447/578229