COOPERATION BETWEEN PUBLIC RESEARCH AND PRIVATE COMPANIES IN PROPAGATION AND CONSERVATION OF PLANTS FROM THE WILD

Abstract

In recent years, conserving biodiversity and propagating wild species are becoming subject of debate and research (Rae & Ingram, 1999). Beside aesthetic and cultural reasons, scientific and economic aspects related to the botanical diversity are of great importance. Plants from wild can contribute to the introduction of novelty in the ornamental market through direct exploitation and providing genetic source for interspecific crosses. Application of  in vitro techniques can greatly contribute to conservation and propagation programs; however, these technologies require the definition of specific protocols and are too expensive for individual small sized companies. On the other hand, introducing new products is a difficult task for public research institutes due to their limited access to markets and to promotion, particularly when the economical potentiality of a product is addressed to amateur public. In this paper, we review the work carried out at the  Regional Institute for Floriculture (IRF) of  Sanremo with the cooperation of  natural parks and growers in order to evaluate the possibility to develop new products to bring to the floriculture market through the exploitation of plants from the  Ligurian biodiversity.