Greek Tulips: Worldwide Electronic Trade over the Internet, Global Ex Situ Conservation and Current Sustainable Exploitation Challenges

Nikos Krigas; Christos Lykas; Ioannis Ipsilantis; Theodora Matsi; Stina Weststrand; Mats Havström; Georgios Tsoktouridis

doi:10.3390/plants10030580

Greek Tulips: Worldwide Electronic Trade over the Internet, Global Ex Situ Conservation and Current Sustainable Exploitation Challenges

Plants (Basel). 2021 Mar 19;10(3):580. doi: 10.3390/plants10030580.

Authors

Nikos Krigas¹, Christos Lykas², Ioannis Ipsilantis³, Theodora Matsi³, Stina Weststrand⁴, Mats Havström⁴, Georgios Tsoktouridis^{1

5}

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources (IPBGR), Hellenic Agricultural Organization (HAO) Demeter, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece.
² Department of Agriculture, Crop Production and Rural Environment, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, Volos, 38446 Magnesia, Greece.
³ Soil Science Laboratory, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
⁴ Gothenburg Botanical Garden, Carl Skottsbergs Gata 22A, SE-413 19 Gothenburg, Sweden.
⁵ Theofrastos Fertilizers, Irinis & Filias, Examilia Korithias, 20100 Korinthos, Greece.

Abstract

From an ornamental viewpoint, tulips are famous clonally propagated crops. This research focuses on 15 wild-growing Greek tulip species including 11 range-restricted species, i.e., six Greek endemics and five Balkan or Aegean endemics and subendemics, among which seven are currently threatened with extinction (two Critically Endangered, three Endangered and two Vulnerable). An overview of the global electronic trade over the internet is presented herein for these valuable phytogenetic resources in an attempt to define the extent of their commercialization (25 nurseries in three countries, mainly bulb trade at various prices) with concomitant conservation implications. In the frame of the repatriation initiatives launched, their global ex situ conservation is overviewed according to the PlantSearch facility of the Botanic Gardens Conservation International (materials from 15 species stored in 41 botanic gardens of 14 countries). The results of this study on the Greek tulips showed that there are both well-established value chains and gaps in the market regarding the "botanical tulips"; revealed the compromised effectiveness of ex situ conservation for the majority of them; raised conservation concerns related to authorized access to these wild phytogenetic resources; and indicated that their future utilization should comply with the provision of national and international legislation. All these are envisaged and discussed within the framework of the newly launched research project TULIPS.GR which aims to be the pilot establishment of a national collection regarding all Greek tulips (currently holding 38 accessions of 13 species, including almost all of the threatened ones). The project's scope is to enable the creation of a sustainable value chain for the Greek tulips with authorized collections, sustainable conservation schemes, production of DNA barcoded propagation material, species-specific propagation and cultivation protocols, mycorrhizal investigations, field studies, applying innovative precise soil/foliar fertigation, and investigation of the postharvest treatment of fresh cut flowers, promoting networking and synergies with producers and associations in Greece and abroad.

Keywords: Greek flora; Liliaceae; Tulipa; biodiversity; botanic gardens; e-commerce; phytogenetic resources; seed banks.

Grants and funding

T2EDK- 05115/European Union and Greek national funds through the Operational Program Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, under the call RESEARCH-CREATE-INNOVATE.