JOURNAL OF BOTANY VOL. IX, NR. 1 (14), 2017 69 GYMNOSPERM PLANTS OF THREATENED CATEGORIES’ SPECIES IN THE CONIFERETUM OF GRISHKO NATIONAL BOTANICAL GARDEN Pokhylchenko O.1, Bucatsel V.2, Bojko N.1, Kolodyajenska T.1, Ostapyuk V.1, Lodok V.1 1M. M. Grishko National Botanical Garden of National Academy of Science of Ukraine 2Botanical Garden (Institute) of Academy of Sciences of Moldova Abstract: The Coniferetum of National botanical garden has been founded in 1945. As of 2017, there are plants of 66 species. These plants belong to five plant familiesCupressaceae, ( Ephedraceae, Ginkgoaceae, Pinaceae, Taxaceae) and 22 plant genera. In accordance with The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, these species are facing a higher risk of global extinction Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN) and Vulnerable (VU), and would be threatened without an ongoing taxon-specific conservation programme (Near Threatened (NT)). The threats are a combination of the extensive exploitation, the spread of the introduced pathogen and a result of climate change. In order to indicate the plants’ growth characteristics, we use the diameter of trunks parameter (DBH - Diameter at breast height). There are eight trees from CR category,Abies numidica De Lannoy ex Carrière, which were planted in 1953 from seeds obtained from Adler (Russian Federation). Now these plants’ DBH are 44 - 71 cm. The grafts of Picea koyamae Shiras. from the same category were selected in the arboretum “Goverla” (Ivano Frankivsk region) in 2006; now we have four under stocks. The EN category is represented by the following plants. ThirteenGinkgo biloba L. trees from Bucharest, planted in 1949 with DBH 30-50 cm; ten trees from Odessa planted in 1956 with DBH 25-50 cm. One Abies koreana E.H.Wilson young tree purchased in 2009 from Belgium. 21 trees Metasequoia glyptostroboides Hu & W.C.Cheng from Lviv botanical garden were planted in 1964 and one tree from Leningrad (Saint-Petersburg) was planted in 1955. These plants’ DBH are 25-50 cm. Picea omorika (Pančić) Purk., obtained from Germany in 1947, have DBH 28 cm. From the VU category there are three plants Picea asperata Mast. taken from Fomin Botanical garden (Kiyv) and planted in 1970; their DBH are 15-23 cm. Two trees Picea likiangensis (Franch.) E. Pritz. taken from Yalta in 1971, their DBH are 22,5 cm. Picea breweriana S.Watson young tree bought in 2009 from Belgium. Tree Pseudolarix amabilis (J. Nelson) Rehder from Beregomet dendropark (Chernivci region) planted from seeds in 2010. From the NT category there are seventeen plants Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (A.Murray bis) Parl. obtained from Uzhgorod in 1962; DBH 11-28 cm. There are six trees Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco grown from China seeds since 1964 year with DBH 23-41 cm. Two plants Chamaecyparis obtusa (Siebold & Zucc.) Endl. grown from Hiroshima seeds since 2010. Cryptomeria japonica (Thunb. ex L. f.) D. Don taken in 1971 from Uzhgorod. Plants taken from Trostyanets dendropark comprise four trees Pinus peuce Griseb. obtained in 1966; DBH 22-46 cm, five treesTsuga canadensis (L.) Carrière obtained in 1954; DBH 15-21 cm and Thuja standishii (Gordon) Carrière taken in 1952; DBH 35 cm. Keywords: Gymnosperms, threatened plant species, Kyiv. INTRODUCTION In accordance to Christenhusz et al. [3], we consider each of the currently existing four gymnosperm groups (Cycadidae, Ginkgoidae, Gnetidae, Pinidae) as subclasses of class Equisetopsida. Overall there are about 1026 gymnosperms species: the three ‘non-conifer’ groups comprise ca 310 species of cycads in 10 genera, one extant ginkgphyte and 80–100 gnetophytes in three genera; there are a total of 615 species of conifers in 70 accepted genera [3]. About half of them are threatened species: Cycadidae - 255 species, Ginkgoidae - 1, Gnetidae - 11, Pinidae – 301 [17]. The threats are a combination of the extensive exploitation, the spread of the introduced pathogen and a result of climate change. The main reasons for that have nothing to do with the air pollution. These are issues accompanying the planet overpopulation and its impact on the natural environment: exploitation, conversion of woods to farmland and urbanization, degradation of woodland vegetation by excessive gathering of firewood, grazing of livestock, burning etc. What little is left after large-scale exploitation by the affluent portion of humankind is further destroyed by the larger and less well-off resident populations [4]. Botanic garden collections are also being proposed as refuge for threatened species to investigate and combat the effects of climate change. The subject of ‘assisted migration’ (intentionally relocating plants to new habitats) is a controversial one, but botanic gardens can assist by providing test sites for assisted migrations [16]. The Coniferetum of M. M. Grishko National botanical garden National Academy of science of Ukraine (NBG) has been founded in 1945. As of 2017, there are plants of 66 species. These plants belong to 22 plant genera from five plant families (Cupressaceae, Ephedraceae, Ginkgoaceae, Pinaceae, Taxaceae). Geographically, 70 JOURNAL OF BOTANY VOL. IX, NR. 1 (14), 2017 the National botanical garden is located in Kyiv, a city with a continental climate. The coldest temperature ever recorded in the city was −32,9°C, the highest - +39,4°C. The averageprecipitation is 621 mm, the average annual temperature is +8,4°C [25]. MATERIAL AND METHOD In accordance with The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, these species are facing a higher risk of global extinction Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN) and Vulnerable (VU), and would be threatened without an ongoing taxon-specific conservation programme (Near Threatened (NT)) [10]. Resistance to the lower temperature limits is showed according to The Gymnosperm Database (2015) [19]. In order to indicate the plants’ growth characteristics, we use the diameter of trunks parameter (DBH -Diameter at breast height). RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS The Coniferetum’s seventeen species are threatened in the natural habitat. The basic information about this issue is presented in the Table 1. Table 1. Main information about threatened categories species plants in the Coniferetum Species In the natural sites In the garden Threat- Resistance to Year of DBH Number ened the lower planting of plants categories temperature limits Abies numidica de Lannoy ex Carrière CR -28.8°C 1953 44-71 8 Algerian Fir Picea koyamae Shiras. Koyama’s Spruce CR -28.8°C 2006 - 4 Ginkgo biloba L. Maidenhair Tree EN -34.3°C 1949 1956 30-50 23 Abies koreana E. H. Wilson Korean fir EN -28.8°C 2009 - 1 Metasequoia glyptostroboides Hu &W. C. Cheng EN -28.8°C 1955; 1964 25-50 21 Dawn Redwood Picea omorika (Pancic) Purk. Serbian spruce EN -28.8°C 1947 28 1 Picea asperata Mast. Dragon Spruce. VU -23,2°C 1970 15-23 3 Picea likiangensis (Franch.) E. Pritz. Likiang Spruce VU -12,1°C 1971 22,5 2 Picea breweriana S.Watson Brewer’s Spruce VU -23.2°C 2009 - 1 Pseudolarix amabilis (J. Nelson) Rehder Chinese VU -23.2°C 2010 - 1 Golden Larch Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (A. Murray bis) Parl. NT -23.2°C 1962 11-28 17 Port-Orford-cedar Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco NT -23.2°C 1964 23-41 6 Oriental Arbor-vitae Chamaecyparis obtusa (Siebold & Zucc.) Endl. NT -23.2°C 2010 - 2 Hinoki Cypress Cryptomeria japonica (Thunb. ex L. f.) D. Don NT -23.2°C 1971 - 1 Japanese Cedar Pinus peuce Griseb. Balkan Pine NT -28.8°C 1966 22-46 4 Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carrière NT -34.3°C 1954 15-21 5 Eastern Hemlock Thuja standishii (Gordon) Carrière NT -23.2°C 1952 35 1 Japanese Arbor-vitae JOURNAL OF BOTANY VOL. IX, NR. 1 (14), 2017 71 Algerian fire’s nature side is located on the Petite Kabylie Mountain range which runs parallel to the Mediterranean coast of Nord Africa. The total extent of occurrence of forests containingAbies numidica is estimated to be less than 30 km2. The actual area of occupancy is estimated to be less than 1 km². Even though the area is protected by a Djebel Babor Nature Reserve, there has been a continual loss in nature side and a decline in the quality of habitat as a result of forest fires, collection of firewood and grazing. These species are therefore listed as Critically Endangered [22]. These species’ plants are found in the botanical collections only in Ukraine. Trees Abies numidica were planted from seeds obtained from Adler (Russian Federation) in the NBG. Periodically these plants produce cones with empty seeds. Koyama’s Spruce is Endemic to Central Honshu, Japan; Prefectures: Nagano (Akaishi Mountains) and Yamanashi (Yatsugatake Mountains). Picea koyamae is a relic species that is at the southern extremity of the range for the genus. It has an extent of occurrence of a less than 100 km². Historical events such as logging, fire, typhoons and landslides have resulted in the relatively small, fragmented stands. Recent genetic studies indicate that there is little genetic exchange between these populations. A change in precipitation, snowfall, temperature, and the frequency of severe weather events associated with climate change is also having an effect on the quality of habitat and regeneration. There has been a reduction of the area of occupancy and there continues to be a loss of mature individuals. This species is therefore listed as Critically Endangered [12]. Plants of this species are very rare in the Ukrainian dendrological collections. The grafts of P. koyamae were selected in the arboretum “Goverla” (Ivano Frankivsk region) in 2006; now we have four under stocks. Maidenhair Tree is the only species in the genus. It has an ancient geological record, appearing in the Jurassic [18]. Extant Ginkgo populations in the Dalou Mountains (SW China) represent fragments of the original natural Ginkgo range.