Desert Botanical Garden’s Current and Future Tissue Culture Efforts

Micropropagation, commonly known as tissue culture, has long been recognized as a valuable tool for propagating rare plants in vitro, playing a pivotal role in plant conservation efforts. Despite its proven utility, tissue culture remains underutilized in many botanical institutions, primarily due to limited resources and perceived high costs associated with implementation. However, in 2020, the Desert Botanical Garden created a modest tissue culture program through funding from a small ESA Section 6 grant. The project focused on the in vitro propagation of the critically endangered Spiranthes delitescens (Canelo Hills ladies’ tresses orchid), with the aim of providing plants for seed amplification and future reintroduction efforts. This project was the foundation for the inception of the Desert Botanical Garden’s tissue culture program, allowing for the acquisition of the essential equipment needed for growing plants in vitro. The success of the lab has since led to a 5-year grant from the BLM to propagate and reintroduce two endangered Sclerocactus species in New Mexico. This presentation will explore the inception of the program, ongoing projects, and future aspirations. Additionally, it will address potential challenges to consider when starting a tissue culture program. By sharing insights gleaned from the Desert Botanical Garden’s experience, we aim to inspire and inform other botanical institutions interested in implementing their own programs.