Download Kaka Beak: Conservation by Cultivation

Kaka Beak:
Conservation
by
Cultivation
Jason Song1,2 Paula E Jameson1 Garry K Burge3 John Clemens1,2
1. School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, 2. Institute of Molecular BioSciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, 3. New
Zealand Institute for Crop & Food Research, Palmerston North
Ngutukaka (Clianthus, the Kaka beak) is one of New
Zealand’s few brilliantly coloured flowering plants. The
genera, Clianthus, only occurs in New Zealand. The last
remaining plant of C. puniceus died in 1996 (Site 12,
Fig 1). With fewer than 100 plants remaining in the
wild, C. maximus is now critically endangered and
becoming rarer as small populations simply
disappear through slips or browsing by deer and
possums [Note: Clianthus is a legume and its
pods and leaves are highly nutritious]. The eleven
remaining populations are spread over the East
Coast of the North Island (Fig 1).
Cultivation, both privately and commercially,
is desperately needed to save the kaka beak.
A few seeds were rescued from the last C.
puniceus plant and these are being grown
under supervision. Fortunately, C.
maximus is a popular ornamental garden
plant already, and seven cultivars are
widely grown. BUT:
(1) Do the cultivated varieties
represent the wild populations?
(2) What is the genetic relationship
among wild populations and how
can this information be used in
species conservation?
(3) Is there enough genetic
diversity among the remaining
populations for kaka beak to
survive in the wild?
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0.25
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Nei’s Genetic Distance
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C. puniceus
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C. maximus 4
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7 8
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Figure 1. Distribution of Clianthus populations.
Note the different northern site of
C. puniceus.
DNA marker (AFLP, ISSR and RAPD) analyses
revealed that all of the 12 wild populations and seven
commercial cultivars are genetically different from
each other (Fig 2).
There is moderate genetic diversity among
populations. All wild populations are important
contributors to the total genetic diversity, and should
be used for species conservation. A genetic
relationship tree was built (Fig 3), and this was
Figure 2. DNA finger printing: A sample
ISSR gel showing DNA banding patterns
recently provided to DOC to assist their conservation
of seven kaka beak cultivars (a-g).
recovery planning.
Note that the different cultivars
Commercial cultivars originated from only a
show genetic differences.
few sources (Fig 3). New cultivar development
from selected wild populations can put more
genetic diversity under cultivation and would
be beneficial for species conservation.
Surprisingly, our results do not support the
current
two species classification. The C.
Figure 3. Genetic relationship tree
built using DNA markers.
puniceus seeds are possibly from a population
of
C. maximus (Fig 1, Fig 3), and C. puniceus
Note that all the wild
may have gone extinct many years ago.
populations (1-12) and
The future of kaka beak looks bleak
cultivars (a-g) are
unless individuals of the wild populations
genetically different.
are brought into cultivation to act as
No wild populations
founder plants for population reare in cultivation!
establishment and/or cultivar
development.
Conservation by cultivation should
be successful for kaka beak
because it is an attractive
ornamental plant.
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