During past five years, effective conservations have been carried out on several critically endangered plants species by us in Yunnan Province, such as Manglietiastrum sinicum, Michelia coracea, Magnolia phanerophlebia, Trigonobalanus doichangensi, Acer yangbiense, and Hibiscus aridicola. In a systematical cycle of germplasm resources investigation and collection, propagation for ex-situ conservation at Kunming Botanical Garden, population biology research and providing guidance to wild reserve management, the wild population reconstructions were guaranteed by our works. Based on the comprehensive studies on the population ecology, reproductive biology and propagation techniques, cytological genetics and genetic diversity, the sampled seedlings and saplings of M.sinicum, M. coracea, M. phanerophlebia, T. doichangensis, A. yangbiense, and H. aridicola have been ex-situ at Kunming Botanical Garden. Meanwhile, 4 species of M. sinicum, T.doichangensis, M. coriacea and M. phanerophlebia have been reintroduced to their natural habitats since 2007. These reintroduction programs are well supported and cooperated from different levels of governmental forest organization, and all the reintroduced saplings of the 4 species have being monitored and data documented. These works provide a practical “model” of effectively conserving the threatened plant species on the basis of scientific researches in China. Our team is one of the leading groups for both ex-situ conservation and reintroduction of the China’s critically endangered plants in the country (even in the world).
Sustainable exploring the indigenous economical plants is another aspect of our work. In the famous horticultural genus Buddleja, the germplasms of over 90% populations of B. davidii and B. delavayi in China have been investigated, collected, conserved and evaluated for breeding new ornamental cultivars. We finished a State Forestry Bureau Project of drafting “Examination of Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability and Harmonized Descriptions of New Varieties of Plants” for 3 genera of Michelia, Parakmeria and Acer, whose new varieties could be then regulated. Five new Michelia cultivars of ‘Feizixiao’, 'Yanzhizui’, 'Dianjiangchun’, 'Chilongzhua’ and ‘Yuxin’ have been bred and received national approval for right protection. This year, we finished a project of “Standardizing Seeds and Seedlings’ Qualities and Cultivations of the Six Chinese Traditional Herbs”. The standards are applying the national approvals.