Mt. Cerceaularrival et al., CONTRIBUTION TO THE PRESERVATION OF THE M ALE GENETIC PATRIMONY OF THE LIVING PLANT COLLECTION AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM-OF-NATURAL-HISTORY, PARIS, Grana, 34(6), 1995, pp. 371-407
The collections of live plants at the National Museum of Natural Histo
ry in Paris (Australian and Tropical Green Houses, Alpine Garden, Chev
reloup's Arboretum and Menton's Exotic Garden) include many ornamental
and also many medicinal and aromatic plants which are threatened or o
nly represented by a few individuals. Firstly, a palynological invento
ry of more than 250 species allowed an evaluation of the male gametoph
yte (pollen) biodiversity of these collections. The study is illustrat
ed by observations using scanning electron microscopy. These are sixte
en of Dicotyledons and eight Monocotyledons selected according to the
systematic and conservation status of the plant and the originality or
representativity of their pollen type and structure: Dicotyledons: Pe
umus, Harrisia, Fenestraria, Sparmannia, Bauhinia, Banksia, Sarcocaulo
n, Reinwardtia, Mina, Jaborosa, Whitfieldia, Thumbergia, Martynia, Ses
amothamnus, Felicia. Monocotyledons: Cyperus, Billbergia, Spathiphyllu
m, Furcraea, Crinum, Iris, Aloe, Lapageria. Original and remarkable st
ructures were observed which deserve more detailed studies in Peumus b
oldus, Sarcocaulon vanderietiae, and Reinwardtia trigyna, in the Dicot
yledons, and in Spathiphyllum floribundum and Furcraea selloa in the M
onocotyledons. Secondly a pollen bank was created in 1983 at the Palyn
ologivcal Laboratory, using a particular technic of freeze-drying deve
loped there. Some 'models', sorted out from the above mentioned collec
tions, have been included in the bank in order to contribute: to the m
anagement of the genetic patrimony of these living collections to thei
r conservations as wild plants. Eight Dicotyledons and four Monocotyle
dons were tested with respect to preservation and storage schedule at
various temperatures: Dicotyledons: Helxine, Sparmannia, Raphiolepis,
Aeonium, Callistemon, Jasminum, Petunia, Viburnum. Monocotyledons: Cli
via, Lapageria, Crinum, Iris. These latter studies stress that, once t
he germination medium is well defined, pollen preserved by freeze-dryi
ng and stored at -80 degrees C seem the best protected for long surviv
al.