Conservation and Landscape of Willow Genetic Resources of Turkey in the National Botanical Garden of Turkey

The Salix L. genus (Salicaceae) represented by 500 species in the world. It has naturally found 27 Salix species including 4 endemics in Turkey. Taxonomical identification can only be done by gathering data of morphology, anatomy and molecular features. It is really important to establish and conserve willow collection garden for evaluating genetical and economical potency of this problematic and diffucult genus. The field works will be done from particular province of Turkey and collected willow cuttings to make willow garden in National Botanical Garden of Turkey (NBGT) by experts. The main purposes of the project are wetland landscape, determination of genetic resources, forming Herbarium samples, anatomical and palynological Slide Collections of endemic plants and Tissue and DNA Bank Collections, specify the medicinal usage and long term ex-situ conservation of Turkish willows. The gathering willows tissue as a leaf for molecular works and collecting willow cutting to plant in the gardens will be planned in the first run. The Turkey Salix DNA and tissue will be archived in the banks and full genome will be sequenced at least for one species. The landscaping of willow garden with rich visual and high diversity is going to designed in the wetland of NBGT by planting of the willows cuttings accepted as recreation species in the World. It will be achieved to conserve of willows which are also bionenergy crops of future by creating willow collection garden. The conservation of genetic resources will be served as a pioneer garden for many significant scientific works in the long run.