Montgomery Botanical Center, Inc.

The Montgomery Botanical Center will partner with the USDA Agricultural Research Service Subtropical Horticulture Research Station and Botanic Gardens Conservation International U.S. in developing a plan for managing its population-based collection of cycads, a group of woody plants found in the subtropical and tropical parts of the world and at risk for extinction. The collaborative project team will use proven genetic assay techniques to capture the genetic diversity of Zamia decumbens as a case study and then incorporate this protocol into collections planning for future work devoted to cycad and palm conservation. Project results will be shared broadly with plant researchers, botanical gardens, research facilities, and the public through websites, tours, educational programming, conferences, reports, and scientific and popular publications.