As Seen on CPC’s Rare Plant Academy: Collecting Genetic Samples from Herbarium Plant Vouchers and Plant Populations

Herbarium vouchers provide both historical data on plant populations and plant tissue for future genetic analyses. How can field biologists help make such analyses possible for the rare plants they monitor and study? This video produced for the Rare Plant Academy from a storyboard by Dr. Jennifer Ramp Neale of Denver Botanic Gardens describes ideal methods for sampling and storing plant tissue for future genetic analysis. One key objective is to maximize genetic diversity by collecting tissue from multiple individuals in each wild population. This will enable researchers to obtain useful information to help maintain a population which may be declining or facing increased threat. Learn more about genetic samples from herbarium vouchers on the Rare Plant Academy.