Website: http://ecrg.groups.xtbg.ac.cn/ 

Group members:

Dr. Shao Shicheng (Assistant Professor)

Ms. Fan Xuli (Assistant Professor)

Mr. Liu Qiang (Assistant Professor)

Contact information:
Xishuangbanna Tropical botanical Garden,
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Menglun, Mengla, Yunnan, 666303, China China
Phone: +86-691- 8716757
Fax: +86-691-8715070
Email: gjy@xtbg.org.cn

Introduction:

Established in August 2008, this new research group aims to carry out researches and practices on ex situ conservation and re-introduction of rare and endangered plants in China.

At present, orchid plants are our main research target. We focus on the effects of habitat fragment on species diversity, genetic structure and reproductive process of local orchids. We have set up a system for long term monitoring on the species diversity, population dynamic, population spatial distribution, reproductive phenology and pollinators of all orchid species in Green Stone Forest, which is a part of Xishuangbannan National Nature Reserve. For some rare species which become locally extinct due to over-collecting as valuable Chinese medicine, seeding from in vitro culture of seeds will be re-introduced to their original habitats, and many research work will focus on the effects of genetic structure and population size on reintroduction.

Current Research Tasks:

1. Effects of Clonal Growth on Sexual Fitness and Its Ecological Significance in Hedychium villosum Wall. var. tenuiflorum Wall.ex Bak.

Research the impacts of clonal growth on mating system, quantify the effects of clonal growth on bisexual fitness by field investigation of natural population, observation of flowering characteristics and pollinator behavior, different control experiments and the application of  molecular marker.

2. Protocorm Conservation of Wild Orchidaceous Plants 

Establish protocorm resource bank of wild orchidaceous plants, explore the methods, conditions of long-term conservation of orchidaceous protocorm; concern relative issues of the genetic diversity maintain in long-term protocorm conservation.

Selected Publications

               Liu Q, Chen J, Corlett RT, Fan X, Yu D, Yang H, Gao J: Orchid conservation in the biodiversity hotspot of southwestern China. Conservation Biology 2015, 29(6):1563-1572.

 Zi XM, Sheng CL, Goodale UM,Shao SC, Gao JY: In situ seed baiting to isolate germination-enhancing fungi for an epiphytic orchid, Dendrobium aphyllum (Orchidaceae). Mycorrhiza 2014, 24(7):487-499.

 Gao JY, Liu Q, Li QJ:The comparative reproductive biology of a tetraploid species, Hedychium villosum, and its diploid progenitor H.tenuiflorum (Zingiberaceae).Plant Biol2014,16(3):683-689.

 Zhou X, Lin H, Fan XL, Gao JY:Autonomous self-pollination and insect visitation in a saprophytic orchid, Epipogium roseum (D. Don) Lindl.Aust J Bot2012,60(2):154-159.

Lin H, Gao JY, Zhang ZR, Fan XL, Zhou X:MICROSATELLITE MARKERS FOR DUPERREA PAVETTIFOLIA (RUBIACEAE).Am J Bot2012,99(8):E310-E312.

 Lin H, Fan XL, Zhou X, Gao JY:Self-interference is reduced in a secondary pollen presentation species, Duperrea pavettifolia (Rubiaceae).Flora2012,207(12):895-902.

 Li L, Chen L, Zhang ZR, Xiao LQ:ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF MICROSATELLITE MARKERS FROM CLEMATOCLETHRA SCANDENS (ACTINIDIACEAE).Am J Bot2012,99(6):E258-E261.

 Li JM, Li QQ, Xiao LQ:DEVELOPMENT OF MICROSATELLITE MARKERS IN PARAKMERIA NITIDA (MAGNOLIACEAE).Am J Bot2012,99(6):E234-E236.

Fan XL, Barrett SCH, Lin H, Chen LL, Zhou X, Gao JY:Rain pollination provides reproductive assurance in a deceptive orchid.Ann Bot2012,110(5):953-958.

Zhang ZQ, Kress WJ, Xie WJ, Ren PY, Gao JY, Li QJ:Reproductive biology of two Himalayan alpine gingers (Roscoea spp., Zingiberaceae) in China: pollination syndrome and compensatory floral mechanisms.Plant Biol2011,13(4):582-589.

 Xiao LQ, Moller M, Zhu H:High nrDNA ITS polymorphism in the ancient extant seed plant Cycas: Incomplete concerted evolution and the origin of pseudogenes.Mol Phylogenet Evol2010,55(1):168-177.

Sun S, Gao JY, Liao WJ, Li QJ, Zhang DY:Adaptive significance of flexistyly in Alpinia blepharocalyx (zingiberaceae): a hand-pollination experiment.Ann Bot2007,99(4):661-666.

 Xiao LQ, Gong X:Genetic differentiation and relationships of populations in the Cycas balansae complex (Cycadaceae) and its conservation implications.Ann Bot2006,97(5):807-812.

 Gao JY, Yang ZH, Ren PY, Li QJ:Reproductive ecology of Rhynchanthus beesianus W. W Smith (Zingiberaceae) in South Yunnan, China: A ginger with bird pollination syndrome.J Integr Plant Biol2006,48(11):1294-1299.

 Gao JY, Ren PY, Yang ZH, Li QJ:The pollination ecology of Paraboea rufescens (Gesneriaceae): A buzz-pollinated tropical herb with mirror-image flowers.Ann Bot2006,97(3):371-376.

 Zhang L, Barrett SCH, Gao JY, Chen J, Cole WW, Liu Y, Bai ZL, Li QJ:Predicting mating patterns from pollination syndromes: The case of "sapromyiophily" in Tacca chantrieri (Taccaceae).Am J Bot2005,92(3):517-524.

 Gao JY, Ren PY, Li QJ:Advances in the study of breeding system and pollination biology of gingers (Zingiberaceae and Costaceae).Acta Phytotaxon Sin2005,43(6):574-585.

 Xiao LQ, Ge XJ, Gong X, Hao G, Zheng SX:ISSR variation in the endemic and endangered plant Cycas guizhouensis (Cycadaceae).Ann Bot2004,94(1):133-138.

 Gao JY, Zhang L, Deng XB, Ren PY, Kong JJ, Li QJ:The floral biology of Curcumorpha longiflora (Zingiberaceae): A ginger with two-day flowers.Am J Bot2004,91(2):289-293.

Deng XB, Ren PY, Gao JY, Li QJ:The striped squirrel (Tamiops swinhoei hainanus) as a nectar robber of ginger (Alpinia kwangsiensis).Biotropica2004,36(4):633-636.

Zhang L, Li QJ, Deng XB, Ren PY, Gao JY:Reproductive biology of Alpinia blepharocalyx (Zingiberaceae): another example of flexistyly.Plant Syst Evol2003,241(1-2):67-76.

.Li QJ, Kress WJ, Xu ZF, Mia YM, Zhang L, Deng XB, Gao JY:Mating system and stigmatic behaviour during flowering of Alpinia kwangsiensis (Zingiberaceae).Plant Syst Evol2002,232(1-2):123-132.

Li QJ, Xu ZF, Kress WJ, Xia YM, Zhang L, Deng XB, Gao JY, Bai ZL:Pollination - Flexible style that encourages outcrossing.Nature2001,410(6827):432-432.

          Liu H, Ren H, Liu Q, Wen X, Maunder M, Gao J:Translocation of threatened plants as a conservation measure in China.Conservation Biology2015,29(6):1537-1551.