Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology

Project's information

Project's title	Investigation and assessment of plant diversity in cave system in northern Vietnam
Project’s code	UQĐTCB.06/22-23
Research hosting institution	Vietnam National Museum of Nature
Project leader’s name	PhD. Do Van Truong
Project duration	01/01/2022 - 31/12/2023
Project’s budget	1,200 million VND
Classify	Excellent
Goal and objectives of the project	Investigate, collect and determine plant species composition, assess biological and ecological characteristics, conservation status and use value of cave plant species in Northern Vietnam, thereby building a basis database serving research and proposing solutions to preserve and develop sustainably this unique ecosystem in Vietnam.
Main results	- Theoretical results: • Collected 934 plant specimens belonging to 539 specimen numbers in 33 caves in the provinces of Northern Vietnam (Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Hoa Binh, Son, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa). In particular, the average ratio of sample numbers/survey point in the Northeast and North Central provinces (Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Thanh Hoa) is much higher than that of the Northwest provinces (Hoa Binh, Son La). • Discovered and described 3 new species to science (Bredia bullata H.Dai & Ying Li, Primulina crassifolia (Aver. & K.S.Nguyen) T.T.P.Anh, F. Wen & Mich.Möller, Microchiriata minor Z.B.Xin, T.V.Do & F.Wen) and added 6 species to Flora of Vietnam (Spiradiclis baishaiensis X.X.Chen & W.L.Shu, Euchresta tubulosa Dunn, Primulina jingxiensis (Yan Liu, W.B.Xu, H.S.Gao) W.B.Xu, K.F.Chung, Aristolochia austroyunnanensis S.M.Hwang, Henckelia nanxiensis Lei Cai & Z.L.Dao, Brandisia kwangsiensis H.L.Li). • 337 species belonging to 142 genera of 63 plant families have been identified in caves in Northern Vietnam. In particular, the phylum Pteridophytes includes 53 species (15.73%), belonging to 22 genera (15.49%), and 14 families (22.22%); while Angiospermae is more diverse with 284 species (84.27%), belonging to 120 genera (84.51%) of 49 families (77.78%). • Life form spectrum of the flora in caves in Northern Vietnam has been established as follows: 59,35Ph + 29,38Ch + 5,04Hm + 5,34Cr + 0,9Th. • Main geographical and plant elements of the cave flora of Northern Vietnam have been identified such as: Worldwide elements (0.9%), pan-tropical elements (1.2%), Paleotropical factors (7.1%), Asian tropical factors (21.7%), Indochina endemic factors (2.7%), Vietnamese endemism (11.9%). • Research results show that plant species composition has changed in a clear downward direction, from the cave mouth to the middle of the cave and the regeneration rate is low, gradually decreasing from the cave mouth to low light areas that depends on the soil characteristics, topography and biological characteristics of the species. • 5 species have been identified in the IUCN Red List (2023), with 1 species at EN, 3 species at VU, 19 species at LC, and 2 species at DD; 4 species are listed in the Vietnam Red Book (2007), with 1 species at EN, 3 species at VU; 5 species are listed in Decree 84/2021/ND-CP (Appendix II). At the same time, we assessed the conservation status for six recently described cave plant taxa according to IUCN criteria and categories. • 221 valuable species have been identified, including 107 species used as ornamental plants (31.75%), 82 species used as medicine (24.33%), 40 species are valuable genetic resources rare (11.87%), 15 species are used for firewood (4.45%), 14 species are used for food (4.15%), 4 species are used as ropes (1.19%). • A morphological and ecological database for 337 plant species recorded in caves was created and a molecular data for 24 endemic or newly discovered and described cave plant species from Vietnam based on the nucleotide sequence of 01 nuclear gene region (ITS) and 04 chloroplast gene regions (trnK-matK-psbA, matK, trnL-trnF, rbcL) was also generated. • Published 06 scientific articles listed in SCI-E international journals (02 articles in PhytoKeys; 01 article in Plant Diversity; 01 article in Annales Botanici Fennici; 01 article on Acta Phytotaxonomica et Geobotanica; 01 article on Nordic Journal of Botany); 02 articles in national journals (01 article in VNU Journal of Science: Natural Sciences and Technology; 01 article in Academy Journal of Biology).
Novelty and actuality and scientific meaningfulness of the results	• For the first time, a list of 337 species belonging to 142 genera of 63 plant families in caves in Northern Vietnam was created. In particular, 3 new species were discovered and described for science and 6 species were added to Flora of Vietnam. • For the first time, the conservation status of some newly described cave plant species has been assessed on the basis of IUCN criteria and categories. • For the first time, analyzing and sequencing the nucleotides of 01 nuclear gene region (ITS) and 04 chloroplast gene regions (trnK-matK-psbA, matK, trnL-trnF, rbcL) of 25 newly discovered cave plant species and endemic species.
Products of the project	- Scientific papers in referred journals (list): ) SCI-E international journals: 1. Jin-Hong Dai, Shi-Yue Nong, Xi-Bin Guo, Truong VanDo, Yan Liu, Ren-Chao Zhou, Ying Liu. 2022. Three new species of Bredia (Sonerileae, Melastomataceae) from the Sino-Vietnamese border area. PhytoKeys 195: 107–125. 2. Zi-Bing Xin, Rui-Feng Li, Stephen Maciejewski, Long-Fei Fu, Truong Van Do, Fang Wen. 2022. Microchirita minor (Gesneriaceae), a new species from north-western Vietnam. PhytoKeys 215: 65–71 3. Truong Van Do & Long Ke Phan. 2022. Complemented description of Ardisia phankelociana (Primulaceae). Annales Botanici Fennici 59(1): 153–157. 4. Tran Thi Phuong Anh, Leonid V. Averyanov, Michael Möller, Tatiana V. Maisak, Khang Sinh Nguyen, Bui Hong Quang, Truong Van Do, Rui Feng Li and Fang Wen. 2022. One transfer to Primulina (Gesneriaceae) and amended descriptions for P. crassifolia and P. quanbaensis from northern Vietnam. Nordic Journal of Botany 2022(5): e03455. 5. Truong Van Do, Ngan Thi Lu. 2022. New Records of Spiradiclis (Rubiaceae) and Euchresta (Fabaceae) for the Flora of Vietnam. Acta Phytotaxonomica et Geobotanica 73 (3): 227–232. 6. Zhe Chen, Zhuo Zhou, Ze-Min Guo, Truong Van Do, Hang Sun, Yang Niu. 2023. Historical development of karst evergreen broadleaved forests in East Asia has shaped the evolution of a hemiparasitic genus Brandisia (Orobanchaceae). Plant Diversity, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pld.2023.03.005 ) National journals: 7. Nguyen Thi To Uyen, Nguyen Trung Thanh, Wen Fang, Do Van Truong. 2022. Primulina jingxiensis, a New Record and Confirmation of Loxostigma dongxingensis for the Flora of Vietnam. VNU Journal of Science: Natural Sciences and Technology, 38(4): 50–55. 8. Pham Van The, Trinh Ngoc Bon, Le Thi Thanh Huong, Do Van Truong. 2023. Aristolochia austroyunnanensis S.M.Hwang, a new record for the flora of Vietnam. Academy Journal of Biology 45(2): 71–79. - Other products: • 552 herbarium specimens belonging to 317 species are preserved and stored at VNMN. • The database of 337 cave plant species is stored at the Research Center for Life Sciences, Vietnam National Museum of Nature.
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