Abstract
Threatened plant conservation is fraught with numerous intrinsic and extrinsic challenges, which vary across species. For example, the absence of a standardized regeneration protocol significantly hinders the mass multiplication of seedlings, while insufficient distribution records make it difficult to model their potential distribution area for reintroduction. We standardized the germination protocol in Acer sikkimensis, a threatened tree of northeast India, and modeled the potential distribution area for its reintroduction in Sikkim, northeast India. The seeds collected for the germination experiment were given cold treatment (5 °C) for 3 months to break dormancy. Subsequently, the seeds were soaked in different concentrations of gibberellic acid (GA3), abscisic acid (ABA), indoleacetic acid (IAA), and kinetin to identify the treatment that enhances germination. Control was maintained by soaking the seeds in deionized water. The potential distribution area of the species was modeled using maximum entropy distribution modeling (MaxEnt) software and averaged monthly normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data for the study area. The treatment with GA3 and kinetin improved seed germination significantly compared to ABA and IAA. The MaxEnt model performed well with less number of occurrence records. The model predicted that only 38 km2 area in Sikkim was highly suitable for the species where the species can be reintroduced. This study’s seed germination protocol is less expensive than the existing micro-propagation techniques. The proposed germination protocol and the potential distribution area map can be helpful for conservationists, scientists, and local nongovernmental organizations to conserve A. sikkimensis and improve its conservation status.
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Acknowledgments
The financial support received from DBT, Govt. of India, under a project entitled “Preventing extinction and improving conservation status of threatened plants through application of biotechnological tools” (Sanctioned letter No. BT/Env/BC/01/2010; 23rd March, 2012) is gratefully acknowledged. We also thank the Head, Department of Botany, Sikkim University, for providing the necessary laboratory facilities.
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Pradhan, A., Chettri, A. (2023). Improving the Conservation Status of a Threatened Tree (Acer sikkimensis Miq. syn. Acer hookeri Miq.) Through Standardization of Seed Germination Protocol and Using Ecological Niche Modeling. In: Dhyani, S., Adhikari, D., Dasgupta, R., Kadaverugu, R. (eds) Ecosystem and Species Habitat Modeling for Conservation and Restoration. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-0131-9_9
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