Germplasm and Conservation of Rare and Endangered Tree Species Endemic to East China

摘要

East China is a geographical region that covers the southeastern coastal zone of China, including Provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shandong, Fujiang, Jiangxi, Anhui and Shanghai (Liu et al. 1995). The area of this region is 65.86 sq km. Most of the east China region locates in the northern and mid-subtropical monsoon region with superior natural condition, with annual rainfall of about 1100mm and moderate climate. So east China is one of the key biodiversity regions in the world (Gao et al. 2004, Ma et al. 2010). The main reasons for this are the ancient geological history and abundance various kinds of plants. With the global industrial expansion and the increase in urban population, the biodiversity of the world is decreasing rapidly. In east Chinaregion where there is rich biodiversity, ecological system is severely damaged and a large number of plant species have become extinct or endangered (Hao et al. 2000, Hu et al. 2002, Zheng et a/.2008). It is critical to take necessary measures to protect endangered species endemic to the region in adaptation to global climate change.