In the lush landscapes of southwest China's Yunnan Province, a green guardian is making waves in the world of biodiversity. The Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, proudly recognized as the largest of its kind in Asia, has successfully preserved over 11,000 types of wild plant seeds. 🌿✨
By the end of 2023, this incredible seed bank had safeguarded more than 94,000 plant seeds from over 11,000 species, housing seeds of more than one-third of China's wild plant varieties. Cai Jie, the director of the seed bank's germplasm collection center, shared these exciting numbers on Wednesday, highlighting the bank's pivotal role in plant conservation.
Why are seeds so important? Well, they hold the genetic information of plants, acting as nature's very own data storage. The Germplasm Bank, often dubbed China's \"Noah's Ark\" for plants, is equipped with a state-of-the-art seed pool, DNA bank, microbial bank, and even an animal germplasm resource bank. Founded in 2007 under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), this facility is at the forefront of preserving rare and endangered species not just in Asia, but globally.
But that's not all! The bank also boasts the largest plant DNA barcode database and identification platform in China. Using cutting-edge DNA barcoding technology, they've discovered new and hidden species within various groups, including the Chinese yew and the Chinese giant salamander. 🧬🔍
Cai emphasized that these efforts are crucial for national biosecurity and play a significant role in biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of natural resources in China. It's a testament to how dedicated research and preservation can make a tangible impact on our planet's health.
From preserving seeds to advancing genetic research, the Germplasm Bank of Wild Species is truly a beacon of hope for our natural world. 🌍💚
