China-Peru collaboration boosted by 'Treasure' plant to safeguard biodiversity
"Treasure" plant strengthens collaboration between China and Peru for biodiversity protection.
TroibNews 
The South China Botanical Garden in Guangzhou City, located in Guangdong Province, is exhibiting a carefully arranged shelf filled with diverse plant specimens sourced from Peru.
Affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the garden has significantly expanded its collection, now featuring 6,300 species samples from the Latin American nation, a remarkable increase from just a few hundred over a decade ago. Among these specimens is a notable large yellow leaf from the bromeliad plant known as the Queen of the Andes.
This plant is indigenous to Peru and is considered a national treasure, thriving in the high Andes at altitudes ranging from 3,000 to 4,800 meters. It is a prominent species within the botanical community. Ge Xuejun, a researcher at the garden, noted that the Queen of the Andes can reach heights of over 10 meters, making it the largest bromeliad on the planet.
Peru is home to many endangered plant species, including the famed Cinchona, a tree that produces quinine, a treatment for early-stage malaria. Its image features on the nation's emblem and currency.
Another plant of immense pride for Peruvians is the Queen of the Andes, which is rare and long-lived, blooming only once in its lifetime. This lifespan can range from 40 to 100 years.
Reflecting on his first sighting of the plant during field research in Peru in 2009, Ge recounted, "The high Andes region was dry and cold, with sparse vegetation. However, the giant Queen of the Andes stood like a flourishing forest." He described the fortunate moment when they saw a recently deceased plant, noting that "its seeds look like grains of rice, with millions of tiny seeds resembling millet."
The survival of this unique Peruvian plant is threatened due to limited genetic diversity and ongoing habitat destruction from logging and the establishment of new pastures. Since 2010, collaborative efforts have been underway between researchers in China and Peru to protect these invaluable species.
Recently, Ge and his team have partnered with Peruvian researchers to publish papers focusing on the genetics and conservation of these plants. Liu Lu, a PhD researcher in Ge's team, despite never having traveled to Latin America, has invested over six years into studying this Peruvian gem. In August, her team made significant strides in genomics research related to the plant, culminating in a publication in an international journal.
Liu highlighted that the study employed scientific methods to illustrate the endangered status and extinction risk of the plant species, along with their adaptability to natural environments. She stated that these findings, which have garnered recognition from Peruvian scientists, will provide a scientific foundation for developing protection strategies for the Queen of the Andes.
Collaborative research into tropical biodiversity and ecology between China and Peru has been ongoing since 2006. The Guangzhou-based botanical garden has emerged as a leader in plant germplasm conservation, playing an essential role in this cooperation.
Ge reminisced about his initial research trip to Peru in December 2008: "After enduring a flight lasting over 20 hours, I discovered that everything in the Latin American country was unfamiliar to me; I was even unaware of the local street trees."
The Chinese plant research team often found themselves in remote, hard-to-reach areas, many of which were unexplored by local researchers. Experienced guides even struggled to navigate these challenging environments, where unfamiliar paths, unidentified species, and inhospitable conditions were commonplace.
Despite the vast distance and language barriers, the trip yielded many delightful surprises for the plant researchers. Ge remarked, "Latin America has an incredible richness of plant species. Of the world's more than 300,000 higher plant species, this region alone harbors over 110,000, surpassing tropical Africa and Asia in abundance."
He emphasized the importance of a global perspective in biological research, noting that since 2009, nearly 100 Latin American scholars and researchers have visited the garden.
Liscely Tumi, a participant in the China-Peru science exchanges, studied the Queen of the Andes in Guangzhou, where she published her findings on genetic diversity as the lead author. "I gained valuable experiences during the research, which helped me expand my research skills," she shared with Xinhua. "It was not only an academic experience, I also had the chance to experience the beautiful Chinese culture, warm people and incredible biodiversity."
As interactions and collaborations between researchers have become more frequent, Ge has recognized that his work encompasses more than just academic research. The Guangzhou-based botanical garden has entered agreements with various Latin American universities and research institutions and conducts numerous science education activities aimed at promoting public awareness of biodiversity conservation.
Ge concluded by stating that research focused on ecological protection is a long-term commitment, emphasizing that cooperation between China and Latin American nations necessitates patience. "By establishing a strong foundation for collaboration and exchanges, we can effectively address the shared challenges in biodiversity conservation and sustainable development," he added.
Thomas Evans for TROIB News
Affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the garden has significantly expanded its collection, now featuring 6,300 species samples from the Latin American nation, a remarkable increase from just a few hundred over a decade ago. Among these specimens is a notable large yellow leaf from the bromeliad plant known as the Queen of the Andes.
This plant is indigenous to Peru and is considered a national treasure, thriving in the high Andes at altitudes ranging from 3,000 to 4,800 meters. It is a prominent species within the botanical community. Ge Xuejun, a researcher at the garden, noted that the Queen of the Andes can reach heights of over 10 meters, making it the largest bromeliad on the planet.
Peru is home to many endangered plant species, including the famed Cinchona, a tree that produces quinine, a treatment for early-stage malaria. Its image features on the nation's emblem and currency.
Another plant of immense pride for Peruvians is the Queen of the Andes, which is rare and long-lived, blooming only once in its lifetime. This lifespan can range from 40 to 100 years.
Reflecting on his first sighting of the plant during field research in Peru in 2009, Ge recounted, "The high Andes region was dry and cold, with sparse vegetation. However, the giant Queen of the Andes stood like a flourishing forest." He described the fortunate moment when they saw a recently deceased plant, noting that "its seeds look like grains of rice, with millions of tiny seeds resembling millet."
The survival of this unique Peruvian plant is threatened due to limited genetic diversity and ongoing habitat destruction from logging and the establishment of new pastures. Since 2010, collaborative efforts have been underway between researchers in China and Peru to protect these invaluable species.
Recently, Ge and his team have partnered with Peruvian researchers to publish papers focusing on the genetics and conservation of these plants. Liu Lu, a PhD researcher in Ge's team, despite never having traveled to Latin America, has invested over six years into studying this Peruvian gem. In August, her team made significant strides in genomics research related to the plant, culminating in a publication in an international journal.
Liu highlighted that the study employed scientific methods to illustrate the endangered status and extinction risk of the plant species, along with their adaptability to natural environments. She stated that these findings, which have garnered recognition from Peruvian scientists, will provide a scientific foundation for developing protection strategies for the Queen of the Andes.
Collaborative research into tropical biodiversity and ecology between China and Peru has been ongoing since 2006. The Guangzhou-based botanical garden has emerged as a leader in plant germplasm conservation, playing an essential role in this cooperation.
Ge reminisced about his initial research trip to Peru in December 2008: "After enduring a flight lasting over 20 hours, I discovered that everything in the Latin American country was unfamiliar to me; I was even unaware of the local street trees."
The Chinese plant research team often found themselves in remote, hard-to-reach areas, many of which were unexplored by local researchers. Experienced guides even struggled to navigate these challenging environments, where unfamiliar paths, unidentified species, and inhospitable conditions were commonplace.
Despite the vast distance and language barriers, the trip yielded many delightful surprises for the plant researchers. Ge remarked, "Latin America has an incredible richness of plant species. Of the world's more than 300,000 higher plant species, this region alone harbors over 110,000, surpassing tropical Africa and Asia in abundance."
He emphasized the importance of a global perspective in biological research, noting that since 2009, nearly 100 Latin American scholars and researchers have visited the garden.
Liscely Tumi, a participant in the China-Peru science exchanges, studied the Queen of the Andes in Guangzhou, where she published her findings on genetic diversity as the lead author. "I gained valuable experiences during the research, which helped me expand my research skills," she shared with Xinhua. "It was not only an academic experience, I also had the chance to experience the beautiful Chinese culture, warm people and incredible biodiversity."
As interactions and collaborations between researchers have become more frequent, Ge has recognized that his work encompasses more than just academic research. The Guangzhou-based botanical garden has entered agreements with various Latin American universities and research institutions and conducts numerous science education activities aimed at promoting public awareness of biodiversity conservation.
Ge concluded by stating that research focused on ecological protection is a long-term commitment, emphasizing that cooperation between China and Latin American nations necessitates patience. "By establishing a strong foundation for collaboration and exchanges, we can effectively address the shared challenges in biodiversity conservation and sustainable development," he added.
Thomas Evans for TROIB News
