So production of seed via controlled pollination is not an option? Surely it would be better, from a genetic diversity perspective, to distribute such seedlings as opposed to clonal propagations? T > Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2011 11:56:12 -0800 > From: plicht@berkeley.edu > To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > Subject: Re: [pbs] Provenance Data for collection material? > > T > I assume you refer tio the policy which restricts the use of seed > produced in cultivation. There are several reasons for this. One of the > most obvious is the increased likelihood that seeds in cultivation are > more likely to represent hybridization. In general, we have little > interest in 'man-made' hybrids and cultivars (which seems to be a major > focus of interest among private collectors as reflected in the PBS > listserve). We do have a number of naturally occuring > cultivars/varieties/subspecies but few produced horticulturally (e.g., > we have about 10,000 different species but close to 13,000 taxa). I > think the cultivated variations have great value, but I see no way, a > serious research collection could maintain the full array of such > variation. Some gardens are in fact, specializing in horticultural > cultivars. > > Another reason we prefer wild-collected seed is the genetic diversity > of the wild population is better represented as compared to selfing or > limited interindividual pollution in a garden. Of course, the value of > provenance relates to the use of plants for academic research and > hopefully ex situ conservation (if plants are to be reintroduced, we > believe it preferable to use plants adapted to the site). vegetatively > propagated materials (e.g., cuttings, bulbiles, bulb divisions) at least > represent genetically represent the original specimen. > > On a related note, the fact that it is so hard to get data for what's > even in public botanical gardens also illustrates one reasons why > cultivation by private growers or even small public gardens a problem. > We have a long way to go to catalog and track such collections. In fact, > database development and maintenance are major issues for all gardens. > Also, these individual/small collections are probably even more likely > to be lost with the individual than changes due to new directors in more > long-standing public gardens. > Paul > > Paul Licht, Director > Univ. California Botanical Garden > 200 Centennial Drive > Berkeley, CA 94720 > (510)-643-8999 > http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu/ > > > On 12/24/2011 11:23 AM, Tim Harvey wrote: > > Paul, > > > > I was wondering at the rationale behind your policy, assuming the parent plants would be of known origin? > > > > T > > > > > >> Incidentally, our own policy prevents use of > >> our seed for building the collection since the seed is not directly from > >> a wild population source. > > _______________________________________________ > > pbs mailing list > > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ > > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/