SCBG Completes Germplasm Collection of Ilex and Ancient Tree

Recently, under the support of the National Wild Plant Germplasm Resource Center (the "National Center"), researchers at the Wild Plant Germplasm Resource Bank of the South China Botanical Garden (SCBG), Chinese Academy of Sciences, completed two special germplasm resource collection works focused on the Ilex and ancient trees.

1. Ilex Germplasm Resources Collection

The genus Ilex L. includes approximately 500–600 species with significant ornamental, ecological, edible, and medicinal value.. China is one of its distribution centers, with about 253 species, among which 149 are endemic. Previously, the National Center had preserved seeds of 87 Ilex species and dried leaf samples of 57 species, but many remained to be collected. From 2024 to 2025, researchers systematically collected Ilex germplasm resources across nine provinces in China, securing leaf materials from 82 species (221 samples) and seeds from 33 species (49 samples), and introduced 70 species.

Through this effort, three key outcomes were achieved. First, this secured leaf materials from 43 species and seeds from 7 species that were new to the National Center's holdings. The newly banked seeds include those of I. calcicola, I. chartacifolia, I. nitidissima, I. pseudomachilifolia, I. pubescens var. kwangsiensis, I. qingyuanensis, and I. salicina. In total, 23 species were added to the collection for the first time. Second, two suspected new species were discovered. Third, the effort included a focused survey and taxonomic research on the Ilex sect. Pseudoaquifolium.

Figure 1. Selected Rare and Endemic Ilex Species_en

2. Ancient Tree Germplasm Resources Collection

Ancient trees are living treasures of forest resources, with significant historical, cultural, ecological, economic, and scientific research value. Guangdong province is home to approximately 358 species of native wild ancient trees, belonging to 185 genera across 65 families. Among these, 190 species produce non-recalcitrant seeds.

In 2025, researchers collected ancient tree germplasm resources across 24 counties in seven Guangdong cities. Following scientific assessments of conservation priority , existing germplasm preservation and population status, seeds from 52 ancient tree species, totaling 210 samples were collected, including Glyptostrobus pensilis, Taxus wallichiana var. mairei, Dacrycarpus imbricatus, Nageia nagi, Erythrophleum fordii, and Reevesia tomentosa.

Figure 2. Researchers in the Field

This work establishes genetic backups for these "living heritage" trees, extending their conservation from in situ protection to a permanent ex situ genetic archive, thereby solidifying the resource foundation for ancient tree preservation.

The germplasm resources preserved by the SCBG’s Germplasm Resource Bank are openly accessible. They can be queried and requested for sharing via the National Center’s portal website (https://seed.iflora.cn/). Contact: Dr. DENG Shuangwen, Germplasm Bank (dengshuangwen@scbg.ac.cn)