Bamboo and Rattan
Introduction
Bamboo and rattan
(BR) are two important non-wood forest products (NWFP) supporting the livelihood
of millions of people in the APO region. The conservation of BR genetic
resources is crucial, but the information that is required to develop and
promote effective conservation and sustainable use is lacking. The urgent need
to promote research to generate this information base was recognized and in
collaboration with
International Network on Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR)
IPGRI’s work on bamboo and rattan genetic resources conservation was initiated.
Financial assistance was provided by Japan to start the programme and these
activities are coordinated by the APO.
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Activities
The
activities include species prioritization, ecogeographic surveys, patterns of
species distribution, assessing patterns of genetic variation, processes
regulating genetic diversity, ex situ and in situ conservation,
training and facilitating regional cooperation and networking
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Species Prioritization
In collaboration with INBAR, the “Priority Species of Bamboo and Rattan” has
been published and distributed. Among other information collated, ambiguities
regarding common names, synonyms and local names have been clarified. This
would allow countries to focus their limited resources on priority species thus
maximizing the returns from their R&D efforts. Over the years the number of
commercially important BR species for various Asian countries were identified.
Additional ecological details pertaining to the conservation of different
species were also gathered and the details published for the use of researchers
and bamboo growers in various countries.
Ecogeographic and genetic diversity studies
IPGRI began supported a
series of fundamental ecogeographic studies in the region. A study in Thailand
mapped the distribution of six bamboo and two rattan priority species,
identifying 26 locations in 21 provinces with rich genetic resources. In China,
the distribution and conservation status of three genera, 37 species and six
varieties were determined. The population richness of Bambusa bambos and
Dendrocalamus strictus was surveyed in the Western Ghats of India. The
information obtained from these studies was used by national programmes to
assist them in managing the genetic resources, conserving and using them better.
The activities supported have helped to promote research on various aspects
including more effective ex situ conservation linked to further
ecogeographic studies, species prioritization, establishing and identifying B&R
biodiversity studies at community, species and molecular level, propagation
studies, seed viability and germplasm collecting. Based on surveys carried out,
partners in Vietnam have produced status reports on bamboo and rattan genetic
resources in that country. These reports recorded 30 species of rattans
belonging to 6 genera and 150 species of bamboo belonging to 20 genera in
Vietnam. The guide on the economically important bamboo and rattan in Indonesia
was published in the Indonesian language for the benefit of the people in the
country and this has helped in bridging the gap in information in that country
on these two important groups of species. A study on mapping the population
status and genetic variation of the rattan, Calamus manan in Sumatera,
Indonesia was carried out
Work was carried out by ATREE (Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the
Environment) in India to evaluate the status of genetic diversity of populations
and to develop the resource status maps to construct spatial and temporal
patterns of loss of BR populations in the Western Ghats. About 24 species of
bamboo and 19 rattans were found. Studies to estimate the genetic diversity of
natural populations of bamboo and rattan using isozyme electrophoresis were also
carried out.
The nuclear DNA contents of 25 bamboo and 15 rattan species, determined by flow
cytometry carried out jointly by University of Nebraska, Lincoln, USA and
National University of Singapore, Singapore have been published. The DNA levels
of many of the bamboo species corresponded with the ploidy levels, reported, and
helped to explain their lack of fecundity and irregularity in reproduction.
Knowledge of DNA content as illustrated by genome size is useful in research in
plant breeding and molecular biological studies. The study on the identification
of genetic markers for gender determination in dioecious rattans in
collaboration with the National University of Singapore has provided a potential
means to monitor the balance of male:female ratio in natural populations, which
has implications on seed production and consequently on natural regeneration.
Ex situ and in situ conservation
Bamboo rich areas
suitable for in situ conservation have been identified for some countries like
Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and the Philippines and species of commercial
importance or those that have good prospects for further developments in
conservation have been determined. Some attempts were also made to identify the
spread and cultivation of native and exotic species that form the integral part
of ex situ conservation in some countries like Myanmar and Vietnam or in a
particular region. Ex situ conservations for education, reference and research
have also been facilitated for example in Malaysia and Myanmar.
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Training
and Regional Collaboration
Training courses on identification, conservation and
genetic diversity for BR have been conducted for researchers in the APO region
as the needs arise. The latest course on collecting and identification of
bamboo for researchers from 5 Southeast countries were conducted. Collaboration
with INBAR for a workshop on the bamboo hybridization is being discussed,
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Publications
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Rao, A.N., V. Ramanatha Rao and J.T. Williams, Eds.
1998. Priority Species of Bamboo and Rattan. Revised edition. Serdang,
Malaysia, IPGRI-APO, Serdang, Malaysia and INBAR , Beijing, China.
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Rao, A.N. and V. Ramanatha Rao (editors) 1999. Rattan– Taxonomy,
Ecology, Silviculture, Conservation, Genetic Improvement and Biotechnology,
Proceedings of Training Course cum Workshop, Sarawak and Sabah. April 14-26
1996. IPGRI-APO, Serdang, Malaysia and INBAR, Beijing, China. 255p.
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Xu, H.C., A.N.Rao, B.S.Zeng and G.T. Yin (editors) 2000. Research on
Rattans in China - Conservation, Cultivation, Distribution, Ecology, Growth,
Phenology, Silviculture, Systematic Anatomy and Tissue Culture. IPGRI-APO
Serdang, Malaysia. 148 pp.
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Rao, A.N. and V. Ramanatha Rao (editors) 2000. Bamboo – Conservation,
Diversity, Ecogeography, Germplasm, Resource Utilization and Taxonomy.
Proceedings of Training Course cum Workshop, May 10 -17, 1998, Kunming and
Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China. IPGRI-APO, Serdang, Malaysia and INBAR,
Beijing, China. 275 pp.
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Sudarmonowati, E., N.S. Hartati, Y.P. Mogea, L.T. Hong
and V. Ramanatha Rao. 2001. Variation of cultivated rattan manau (Calamus
manan) in West Java based on morphological appearance and isozyme
pattern. Paper presented at the Indonesian Biotechnology Conference,
Yogyakarta, Indonesia. 24-26 October 2001.
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Wang Kanglin, L.T. Hong and V. Ramanatha Rao. 2002.
Genetic diversity and indigenous utilization of bamboo in Xishuangbanna,
Yunnan Province, Southwest China. Journal of Bamboo and Rattan.1(3):263-274.
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Hong, L.T., V. Ramanatha Rao, W. Amaral. 2002. Rattan
genetic resources conservation and use, IPGRI’s perspective and strategy. Pp.
63–68 in Rattan, current research issues and prospects for conservation and
sustainable development (J. Dransfield, F.O.Tesoro and N.Manokaran, eds.).
Non-Wood Forest Products No. 14. FAO, UNDP, Rome.
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Wong, K.M. 2004. Bamboo – The Amazing Grass. A guide to
the diversity and study of bamboos in Southeast Asia. International
Plant Genetic Resources Institute and University of Malaya, Malaysia. 80 pp.
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Contact in IPGRI-APO
IPGRI Contact:
V. Ramanatha Rao
Senior Scientist, Genetic Diversity/ Conservation
Email: v.rao@cgiar.org
HONG L.T.
Specialist, Bamboo and Rattan and Forest Genetic Resources
Email: l.hong@cgiar.org,
International Plant Genetic Resources Institute
Regional Office for Asia, the Pacific and Oceania
P.O.Box 236, UPM Post Office
43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
Tel. +603-8942389, Fax +603-89487655
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