Global Genome Initiative-Gardens Awards Program

Since 2017, GGBN's Partner, the Global Genome Initiative for Gardens (GGI-Gardens), has provided invitational award funding for gardens and herbaria to support sampling activities from living collections with unique families and genera of vascular plants not yet represented in GGBN biorepositories. This program was underwritten by GGBN Partner's the Global Genome Initiative (GGI).

In 2020, GGI-Gardens collaborated with Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) to expand these efforts, launching the BGCI/GGI-Gardens Awards Program with underwriting from GGI and the United States Botanic Garden (USBG).

Gardens that receive funding from these programs either partner with existing GGBN members or join GGBN directly to make their genomic sample data discoverable, thereby increasing the diversity of samples available for plant genomics research.

2020 BGCI/GGI-Gardens Awards Program

Atlanta Botanical Garden

Country: United States

GGBN membership: Membership finalization in process

Title: Biobanking Conservation Collections at the Atlanta Botanical Garden

Abstract: Conservation Collections at the Atlanta Botanical Garden maintain genetically diverse ex situ collections of the highest conservation value in collaboration with local and international partners. The collections strive to increase knowledge of southeastern United States plant diversity through exploration and inventory of targeted geographic areas. The proposed project would result in biobanking of six target species in the conservation collections which are from genera not represented in GGBN collections.

GGBN Contributions:

• 6 genera new to GGBN

• 1,000 total samples

Core Facility Botanical Garden, University of Vienna

Country: Austria

GGBN membership: New Member

Title: Securing unique samples and data of from families and genera of vascular plants cultivated at the Botanical Garden, University of Vienna

Abstract: The Botanical Garden of the University of Vienna holds c. 12.000 species in several unique research and conservation collections (i.e., Bromeliaceae, certain orchid genera, Gesneriaceae, Rubiaceae, or taxa of the Pannonian region) including numerous rare and endangered taxa. Our collections include taxa not having been studied or documented widely before - therefore we try to sample and document them as comprehensive as possible (we share a databank with the herbarium WU - JACQ – allowing more complete but also more time consuming documentation).

GGBN Contributions:

• 200 total samples

Desert Botanical Garden

Country: United States

GGBN membership: Not a current member

Designated repository for sample storage: Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT)

Title: Collection and preservation of tissue from the Cactus and Agave families

Abstract: The Desert Botanical Garden holds one of the most complete living collections of cactus and agave families in the world. With these diverse and well-documented collections, DBG can make a significant contribution to GGBN. Our goal is to collect from 250 species from the cactus and agave families, particularly those species that have been assessed in vulnerable categories through the IUCN Red List. In addition to the targeted species list we provide (200), we will collect from another 50 species in these families, as vouchering is possible, prioritizing genera not yet represented in the GGBN.

GGBN Contributions:

• 2 total families

• 38 total genera, 26 new to GGBN

• 250 total samples

Inala Jurassic Garden

Country: Australia

GGBN membership: Membership finalization in process

Title: Collection of Gondwanan taxa from Living Collections within Australia for the Global Genome Initiative for Gardens program

Abstract: The aim of the project is to collect herbarium vouchers from specimens in the living collection at the Inala Jurassic Garden in Tasmania Australia. Target plant groups will include members of plant families with Gondwanan ancestry such as Podocarpaceae, Atherospermataceae, Restionaceae, Proteaceae, Cunoniaceae, Nothofagaceae, Myrtaceae, Escalloniaceae, and key subfamilies such as Cupressaceae: Callitroidea and Ericaceae: Stypheloideae. The focus will be on Palaeo-endemic Tasmanian and under-represented taxa in living collections. augmented with wild-collected samples from non-reserve areas.

GGBN Contributions:

• 13 total families, 1 new to GGBN

• 47 total genera, 34 new to GGBN

• 116 total samples

Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden

Country: Brazil

GGBN membership: Current member

Title: Improving Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden arboretum specimens tissue sample collection

Abstract: Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden (JBRJ) owns one of the most beautiful tropical collections, cultivated throughout its Arboretum. In 2018, JBRJ’s proposal was approved for funding by the GGI-Gardens Partnership Awards Program and a new genome-quality tissue sample collection, RBtecido, was successfully established. We believe that improving this collection will be of key importance for the scientific community, so prioritizing taxa absent from other biorepositories, particularly at the genus level, we intend to voucher and preserve genome quality leaf tissues from 96 genera new to GGBN.

GGBN Contributions:

• 27 total families, 1 new to GGBN

• 96 total genera, 96 new to GGBN

• 96 total samples

Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute

Country: India

GGBN membership: New Member

Title: Establishment of a biorepository of the plants in the Southern Western Ghats of India with particular emphasis on endemics

Abstract: The Western Ghats is a global biodiversity hotspot and a world heritage site in India, with a high rate of endemism. The present program envisages developing a biorepository of genetic tissue of 30 species belonging to 22 genera (15 families) alongside other species endemic to the Western Ghats. A query in GGI data tools showed that these genera are not represented in the GGBN. All taxa will be wild-sourced. Seven species are under different threat categories. Twenty-one species are endemic to the Western Ghats, and another four are endemic to India.

GGBN Contributions:

• 15 total families

• 22 total genera, 18 new to GGBN

• 100 total samples

Kunming Botanical Garden

Country: China

GGBN membership: Not a current member

Designated repository for sample storage: China National Gene Bank (CNGB)

Title: Selected plant species genomic resources sampling and preserving from the living collection in Kunming Botanical Garden (KBG)

Abstract: Through the next 12-months, the applicants will carry out target species sampling and preserving collected specimens and tissues sin the KUN herbarium and the Germplasm Bank of Wild Species respectively. The methodology and standards of sampling will be directed by the international germplasm bank regulations. During the implementation of the proposed project, the investigators will focus on the Rhododendron species which are living in the KBG campus and will cross-check the existing Rhododendron species list in Yunnan and China. They will also update the genera of Rhododendron genomic resources.

GGBN Contributions:

• 182 total families, 2 new to GGBN

• 671 total genera, 97 new to GGBN

Montgomery Botanical Center

Country: United States

GGBN membership: Not a current member

Designated repository for sample storage: Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT)

Title: Expanding access to genomic biodiversity through living collections of tropical plants

Abstract: With a mission to advance science, education, conservation and horticulture of tropical plants, Montgomery Botanical Center (MBC) fosters and participates in scientific research by collecting and maintaining scientific data on its more than 14,500 plants, including nationally accredited collections of palms, cycads and tropical conifers. We will collect and preserve herbarium vouchers and tissue samples from 70 genera not yet cataloged in GGBN. Efforts will focus on palms, currently underrepresented in GGBN, as well as rare and endangered tropical conifer and flowering tree species.

GGBN Contributions:

• 25 total families, 1 new to GGBN

• 77 total genera, 70 new to GGBN

• 250 total samples

Northwestern University Ecological Park & Botanic Gardens

Country: Philippines

GGBN membership: New member

Title: Northwesterniana Genomic Biodiversity Project: Understanding and Saving Biological diversity in a typhoon prone region of Northwestern Luzon, Philippines

Abstract: The Philippines is among the Mega-diverse countries in the world but threatened by super typhoons and its floral diversity is at risk. This project will launch a new expedition to the wild to document, understand, and save the critical plant species, to augment the ex-situ collection at the NUEBG and establish genomic collection and other preserved plant specimens to the Herbarium of the Northwestern Luzon (HNUL), to deposit seeds to tis Mini Seedbank as a component of the NUEBG conservation program, and to generate data as basis for conservation protocol and policy making of the government.

GGBN Contributions:

• 195 total families, 6 new to GGBN

• 250 total genera, 140 new to GGBN

• 500 total samples

Royal Botanic Garden

Country: Jordan

GGBN membership: Membership finalization in process

Title: Supporting the living Collection and Documentation of the unique families and genera of vascular Native plants not yet represented in biorepositories in Jordan

Abstract: The Royal Botanic Garden was founded as a non-governmental, non-profit entity in 2005 to conserve the flora and biodiversity of Jordan by propagating and displaying native plants, rehabilitating habitats at the whole-system level, and sharing information. The main objective for this proposal is to support the living collection activities at the RBG for 30 species of high importance for the RBG and the GGBN, RBG has the capacity to collect, document and store the plant vouchers in its herbarium and seedbank, further more RBG will work to propagate these species within its nursery.

GGBN Contributions:

• 15 total families

• 39 total genera, 37 new to GGBN

• 60 total samples

San Diego Botanic Garden

Country: United States

GGBN membership: Membership finalization in process

Title: San Diego Botanic Garden - Sharing our Collection with the World

Abstract: The San Diego Botanic Garden (SDBG) has an extensive botanical collection spanning not only the diverse local flora of southern California but also plants from other regions of the world. San Diego is home to a high number of endangered and endemic plant species, which we are eager to share through the GGI-Gardens program. SDBG will also contribute exotic taxa from our nationally accredited bamboo collection and highly diverse cycad collection. More than 300 genera in SDBG's collection are new to GGI, providing a wealth of opportunity to establish a critical foundation for SDBG's herbarium.

GGBN Contributions:

• 25 total families, 2 new to GGBN

• 43 total genera, 42 new to GGBN

• 52 total samples

The Huntington

Country: United States

GGBN membership: Membership finalization in process

Title: GGI Collection Internship at The Huntington

Abstract: Gap analysis indicates that The Huntington has 907 genera in 30 families across 10 orders of the plant tree of life not sampled for the GGBN. A previous GGI intern optimized our collection protocols and collected 95 genera in one season. With this experience we expect to increase our efficiency and total specimens collected this coming year. This award will partly fund another intern position with the goal of collecting 100-150 genera. Existing relationships with local academic institutions enable us to easily recruit well qualified and motivated students for intern positions.

GGBN Contributions:

• 135 total families, 13 new to GGBN

• 907 total genera, 833 new to GGBN

• 907 total samples

Tooro Botanical Gardens

Country: Uganda

GGBN membership: New Member

Title: Collection of Irvingia gabonensis, Citropsis articulata, Turraenthus africana, Entandrophragma angolense, Warburgia ugandensis and other threatened tree species in Uganda

Abstract: Uganda is endowed with agro climatic conditions suitable for conservation of a wide range of African threatened indigenous tree species like Irvingia gabonensis, Citropsis articulata, Turraenthus africana, Entandrophragma angolense and Warburgia ugandensis. However, most of these are over exploited/harvested for timber and herbal medicinal extractions, and decreasing in species populations and diversity due to human population increasing trends degrading their original habitats. It’s important to collect and preserve these species that serve a critical function for a variety of studies.

GGBN Contributions:

• 16 total families

• 33 total genera, 6 new to GGBN

• 300 total samples

Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden/Chinese Academy of Sciences

Country: China

GGBN membership: Not a current member

Designated repository for sample storage: To Be Determined

Title: Collection and Conservation of Wild Relatives of Yam (Dioscoreales) in Yunnan Province

Abstract: Dioscorea is a genus of great economic value, including important food plants. Several species are widely cultivated, while other wild species are valuable famine foods. Xishuangbanna benefits from a unique tropical climate and its flora is one of the most biodiverse in China and SE Asia. There are around 27 Dioscorea species in Xishuangbanna, around 6 are critically endangered, and around 8 are endangered. In order to better preserve the genetic resource of those species before they vanish from earth, we intend to collect all the species in genus Dioscorea distributed in Xishuangbanna.

GGBN Contributions:

• 70 families

• 251 genera, 94 new to GGBN

• 275 total samples

2020 GGI-Gardens Invitational Program

Australian National Botanic Gardens

Country: Australia

GGBN membership: Not a current member

Designated repository for sample storage: Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT)

Title: Securing Australian species for future research

Abstract: Many Australian landscapes were impacted by the recent Black Summer (2019-2020) bushfires. The Australian National Botanic Gardens (ANBG) holds more than 4000 species from across Australia including many from fire-impacted areas. We propose to sample up to 300 species held in the ANBG for which specimens are held at the Australian National Herbarium and place these samples into appropriate storage for future research. Taxa selected will include genera identified during the GAP Analysis for this project, as well as additional taxa from eastern Australia, particularly those occurring in bushfire affected areas, including narrow range endemics and related, widespread species.

GGBN Contributions:

• 58 total families, 5 new to GGBN

• 241 total genera, 210 new to GGBN

• 300 total samples

2019 GGI-Gardens Invitational Program

Chicago Botanic Garden

Country: United States

GGBN membership: Current Member

Designated repository for sample storage: National Museum of Natural History (NMNH)

Title: Chicago Botanic Garden Living Collections

Abstract: The Chicago Botanic Garden, a public/private collaboration between the Forest Preserve District of Cook County and the Chicago Horticultural Society proposes to participate in the Global Genome Initiative by collected circa 250 DNA vouchers in year 1 from the living collections at the Garden supported by herbarium vouchers and images.

GGBN Contributions:

• 261 total families

• 1,626 total genera

• 13,200 total samples

National Tropical Botanical Garden

Country: United States

GGBN membership: Current Member

Title: Advancing collections, preservation and sharing of wild and ex situ plant collections on Kauaʻi to enhance global plant genomic research

Abstract: NTBG’s herbarium (PTBG), DNA library, and living collections are an indispensable resource for the plant conservation and science community. Samples in our proto-DNA library, in which there are currently more than 4,000, are available for researchers. Through the GGI-Gardens partnership, these samples representing 145 families, 492 genera, and more than 1,200 species can be discoverable through the GGBN Data Portal. In addition, through 25 collection days with two field staff at the rate of 15 collections per collection day per person over the course of one year, we will be able to add an additional 750 samples to our collection.

GGBN Contributions:

• 145 total families

• 492 total genera

• 4,101 total samples

2018 GGI-Gardens Invitational Program

Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro

Country: Brazil

GGBN membership: Current Member

Title: Preserving genome-quality tissue samples from Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden arboretum

Abstract: Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden (JBRJ) owns one of the most beautiful tropical collections, cultivated throughout its Arboretum. With a considerable and worldwide recognized biological diversity, it still maintains historical collections that date from its creation in 1808. Of the currently existing 7,240 botanical specimens, belonging to approximately 2,500 species, 850 are unique to JBRJ and 150 taxa are globally threatened. Prioritizing taxa absent from other biorepositories worldwide, particularly at the genus and family level, we intend to voucher and preserve genome quality leaf tissues from 150 of the 515 genus new to GGBN and 30% to 50% of the 23 families and 60 genus new to GGBN, GenBank and unique to Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden.

GGBN Contributions:

• 75 total families

• 330 total genera

• 339 total samples

2017 GGI-Gardens Invitational Program

Missouri Botanical Garden

Country: United States

GGBN membership: Current Member

Title: Collecting genomic quality tissues from plant specimens growing at the Missouri Botanical Garden as part of the GGI-Gardens program

Abstract: The Missouri Botanical Garden (MOBOT) is one of the premier botanical institutions in North America, with more than 6.66 million herbarium specimens and ca. 32,612 living plant accessions growing in the Garden’s grounds and research greenhouses. Throughout the years, with intensive collections efforts by garden research staff, and upkeep by the Horticulture Department, MOBOT has been able to maintain an exceptional and distinct sample of the planet’s plant diversity alive on the Garden’s grounds. A gap analysis of the taxa represented in MOBOT’s living collections (1,634 genera, excluding known cultivars and hybrids) showed that ca. 662 genera (ca. 40.5% of the collections) include records that are potentially new to the Global Genome Biodiversity Network (GGBN). Although sometimes present in other GGI-partner Gardens, these taxa have not yet been collected. Moreover, 48 other genera, are completely new to the GGBN (i.e. unique to MOBOT, not found in any other partner Garden). The same analyses at the family level showed, 8 families unique to MOBOT, and 17 more potentially new to GGBN, from a total of 237 families found on living collections. Therefore, MOBOT currently provides a very unique representation of the planet’s biodiversity to help achieve GGI-Garden’s goal of preserving ca. 50% of the plant generic diversity on Earth. The main goal of this project is to collect as many genome quality samples as possible of plant genera not yet represented in the GGBN that are growing on the grounds and research facilities of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Specimens collected will include at least one herbarium voucher, fresh leaf tissue stored in silica gel, fresh leaf tissue stored in 8 ml cryovials, fast-deep-frozen in liquid nitrogen, as well as digital photographs.

GGBN Contributions:

• 237 total families, 25 new to GGBN

• 662 total genera, 48 new to GGBN

• 4,000 total samples