SIA “Field and Forest” will cultivate three endangered medicinal plant species
In summer 2020, SIA “Field and Forest” in cooperation with researchers from the Institute for Environmental Solutions (IES) launched the study on commercial propagation of endangered medicinal and aromatic plants by using tissue culture method. This approach will provide an opportunity to cultivate endangered species in organic farming.
Three endangered wild medicinal plant species with high market potential were selected for this research – Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus Maxim.), common yew (Taxus baccata L.) and sea holly
(Eryngium maritimum L.). During the 3-year period, IES researchers will
develop efficient and economically viable propagation methods of these
plants for commercial use in organic farming.
In the following interview, IES leading researcher Dr Ieva Mežaka highlighted the progress and the importance of this research.
IES: Why is it necessary to do this research?
Dr Ieva Mežaka (I.M.):
90% of medicinal and aromatic plants are harvested in wild and only 10%
are cultivated. Increasing harvesting of MAPs in the wild, along with
the loss of natural habitats, bring a heavy burden on wild populations,
therefore, many of them are endangered. Meanwhile, the human population
is growing and so is the market demand for MAPs. In this research, we
are looking for ways to grow medical and aromatic plants more
effectively – by cultivating them in organic farming. Another important
challenge is to seek for the growing technologies that could provide the
highest harvests and concentration of active compounds in plants.
Wild sea holly, the coast of the Baltic Sea. Sampling campaigns during
the summer and autumn 2020 research period. Image: Institute for
Environmental Solutions.
IES: Why did you choose these 3 MAPs – Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus Maxim.), common yew (Taxus baccata L.) and sea holly (Eryngium maritimum L.)?
I.M.:
The main reason was the high market demand for these MAPs due to which
their wild populations are endangered. During this research, we will
develop technologies for cultivation of these endangered MAPs in organic
farming, thus decreasing the pressure on wild populations. Additional
factors for selecting these plants were their unifying vulnerabilities –
prolonged seed germination, low seed production and slow rooting of
cuttings.
IES: You mentioned that the selected MAPs have a high market demand. Where exactly one can use active compounds of these plants?
I.M.:
60% of all produced pharmaceuticals contains active compounds extracted
from medicinal and aromatic plants. Wild Siberian ginseng, common yew
and sea holly have a high concentration of different active compounds
widely used in pharmaceutical, food and cosmetics industries. For
example, common yew is used for the development of anti-cancer drugs.
Moreover, research shows that Siberian ginseng has a stimulating and
anti-depressive effect, but Sea holly is used for liver and kidney
disease cures.
IES: Please explain this plant tissue culture propagation method?
I.M.:
It is a biotechnology method that allows us to propagate plants by
using tissue cultures. We grow these plants in laboratory test tubes,
but we do not change their genetics. This method can be divided into
four steps:
- First step. We start with seed germination then we grow a plantlet.
- Second step. Then
we do micro-propagation. We take that plantlet that we grew and cut it
in pieces. From these pieces, we can re-grow new plantlets and continue
this process in geometrical progression.
- Third step. Rooting of the plantlets propagated in the second step.
All
this process is done in controlled and sterile conditions.
Micro-propagation and rooting require adaptation of each medium
composition that we are providing to the plantlets. This includes the
composition of micro-and macro-elements, vitamins, growth regulators,
various other additives, and their concentrations. This is an important
process because it determines the growing conditions of the plant and
plantlet development.
- Fourth step. Adaptation of plants grown in laboratory conditions to conventional growing conditions in the soil. Plants that are propagated in these circumstances where we provide a suitable environment – nutrients, humidity, suitable temperature etc., are relatively fragile to external impact factors.
Siberian ginseng seeds. Image: Institute for Environmental Solutions.
IES: Why did you choose this method instead of other easier approaches?
I.M.: All three of the researched plants under normal propagation conditions germinate slowly and unevenly. It takes up to 18 months to sprout Siberian ginseng seeds and they need stratification – a simulated set of environmental effects in controlled conditions which accelerate seed sprouting. For example, by subjecting seeds to cold treatment we simulate the period that seed experiences under natural conditions during winter. Plant tissue culture method in the propagation process allows us to exclude the long seed sprouting procedure. We sprout the gathered seeds once at the beginning of the research and afterwards, we work only with plantlets and micro-propagation. This process is much faster than other more traditional propagation methods, therefore more suitable for commercial cultivation. Additionally, this method allows us to do a chemical analysis of plantlets, thus allowing us to understand which plants have a higher concentration of active compounds. Then we can choose which ones to propagate for commercial use.
Common yew (Taxus baccata L.) plant with berries, sampling campaigns
during the summer and autumn 2020 research period. Image: Institute for
Environmental Solutions.
IES: Is it planned to propagate populations harvested in Latvia?
I.M.:
In Latvia wild populations of common yew and sea holly can be found but
wild Siberian ginseng is common in Russia and China. For the last few
decades, private farmers have proven that it is possible to cultivate
Siberian ginseng in natural conditions of Latvia. Within this research,
we were interested to gather wild population samples as well as ones
that are grown by farmers from Latvia and other natural distribution
areas of these plants.
We launched this research in summer
of 2020. So far, we have already implemented sampling campaigns where
we collected different parts of plants (leaves, branches, roots) and
seeds. In Latvia, these plants are endangered, therefore we needed to
get special permission approved by the Nature Conservation Agency. We
have gathered samples of all three species found in Latvia (wild species
and samples from private growers). We also carried sampling expeditions
to Saaremaa and Kihnu islands in Estonia. Also, for these expeditions,
we needed to get special permission from the Environmental Board.
We were planning to carry sampling campaigns in other natural distribution areas of these plants, but our plans were disrupted by COVID-19 pandemic. We adapted to this situation and found other solutions for the collection of samples. In seed exchange programs we were able to gather several samples from the collections of national botanical gardens, universities and private growers from Latvia and other countries.
Wild sea holly, the coastline of the Baltic Sea. Sample gathering campaigns during the summer and autumn 2020 research period. Image: Institute for Environmental Solutions.
IES: What have you planned for the next research periods?
I.M.:
Sample gathering campaigns are concluded. We have started the work with
seed stratification and introduction of seeds to plant tissue culture.
Researchers in the laboratory began the assessment to find the best
approach of chemical analysis for all three researched MAPs. We are
developing a methodology and preparing extracts for chemical analysis.
That will help us understand what kind of active substances are in the
researched plants and how they differ between populations. Thus, we hope
to find out which of the researched populations are the most valuable
ones.
Research on plant tissue culture application for
commercial propagation of endangered medicinal plants is developed as a
part of the European Regional Development Fund programme 1.1.1 “Improve
research and innovation capacity and the ability of Latvian research
institutions to attract external funding, by investing in human capital
and infrastructure” 1.1.1.1. measure “Support for applied research”, Nr.
1.1.1.1/19/A/083.
More about the project here.