The study on genetic diversity and chemical composition of some coniferous species in highland of Vietnam, and proposed solutions to conserve, use and sustainable development

Assessment of the population structure; using DNA analysis techniques and chemical composition study for some of coniferous species in Highland of Vietnam as a basis for proposing solutions to their use and conservation, contributing to sustainable development.

Theoretical results:

• DNA analysis technique was pointed out: (i) Some gene regions could be used to identify for 6 coniferous species in highland of Vietnam (Pinus dalatensis Ferré, Pinus kesiya Royle ex Gordon, Pinus latteri Mason, Pinus krempfii Lecomte, Podocarpus neriifolius D. Don and Amentotaxus poilanei D.K. Ferguson); (ii) The cause of the declination of genetic diversity of the 7 endangered conifer species (Cephalotaxus mannii Hook.f., Calocedrus macrolepis Kurz, Keteleeria evelyniana Mast, Pinus dalatensis Ferré, Thông lá dẹt (Pinus krempfii Lecomte), Dacrydium elatum (Roxb.) Wall and Nageia wallichiana (C. Presl) Kuntze))
• 33 chemical compounds have been isolated from four coniferous species (C.mannii, K. evelyniana, P. krempfii and N. wallichiana). Among them, substances Galangnin and (+) Isolariciresinol were discovered first time in P. krempfii and 01 new substances (Norisoharringtonine) from C. mannii).
• Survey of cytotoxic activity in vitro was showed that: (i) The three compounds, namely 3β-hydroxytotarol, 19-carboxylic acid-totarol and Norditerpene dilactone from Amentotaxus poilanei have restraining effect on eight human cancer cell lines with ellipticine as postive control (KB, Hep-G2, LU, MCF7, SK-Mel2, HL60, SW626 and SW480); (ii) Substance Nordesoxyharringtonin from C. mannii have shown to be able to strongly inhibit KB, Hep-G2, Lu and MCF-l; and (iii) For Pinus krempfii two substances Galangnin and Srytostrobin have the ability to suppress KB, Hep-G2, Lu, MCF7 and substance Strobopinin have ability to inhibit KB and Hep-G2.
• Through our molecular analysis, study on conservation status and the ability to produce grain and natural regeneration has launched conservation solutions for 7 species of conifer.
• Collected 02 sets of specimens and confirmed 15 coniferous species still exist in Tay Nguyen.

Applied results: The obtained results are references and can be deployed for research on the identification, genetic diversity, biological active and chemical composition of some conifer species. They can help scientists and managers understand the cause of the extinction process of species. The study also contributed to conservation, sustainable development and protection of the national sovereignty for the endemic coniferous species, economic value and important role in the environmental landscape in the Tay Nguyen.

• For the first time in Vietnam there were basic scientific data for 15 coniferous species in the highland of Vietnam;
• For the first time in Vietnam there was addtion in: (i) the location of species C. mannii in Kon Ka King National Park and species C. macrolepis in Kon Chu Rang conservation Area, Gia Lai Province; (ii) 03 compounds (02 substances Galangnin and Isolariresinol in P. krempfii and 01 new substances is Norisoharringtonine in C. mannii; (iii) 07 substances have ability to inhibit some human cancer cell lines (3 from N. wallichiana, 1 from C. mannii and 3 from P. krempfii);
• For the first time there was shows some gene regions could be used to identify coniferous species in Tay Nguyen: trnH-psbA gene region (635bp) for P. datalatensis; (2) trnL gene region (394bp) for P. kesiya and P. latteri); (3): trnH-psbA (540bp) and trnL (394 bp) for P. krempfii; (4) trnH-psbA gene region (398bp) for P.neriifolius) and (5) rpoC1 region (554bp) for A. poilanei).
• The first time there were proposed conservation solutions, use and rational exploitation for the 7 species of coniferous (C. mannii, C. macrolepis, K. evelyniana, P. dalatensis, P. krempfii, D. elatum and N. wallichiana) on the basis of results on genetic diversity and ability to create grains and natural tree regeneration.

Publications: 02 International articles (01 in SCI_E and 01 in ISSN), 01 articles in International workshop and 09 articles in Journals of VAST.

Technological products (describe in details: technical characteristics, place):

• Products housed at Vietnam National Museum of Nature: (1) The sample collection of leaves/bark/root… eligible for molecular analysis: 1527 samples, 503 DNA samples; (2) 02 herbarium specimens of 15 species of coniferous; (3) To expose conservation for 15 conifer species in highland of Vietnam; (4) 73 sub-project reports; (5) 01 biological active product towards making drugs for cancer treatment and 03 clean substances with biological activity; (6) Training: 02 PhD and 05 MAs.
• Products stored on GenBank: 123 nucleotide sequences of 15 species of coniferous in highland of Vietnam registered.

We request Tay nguyen 3 Program to:

(1) continue the funding for the project to aid our process of decoding and genetic diversity analysis for the remaining conifer species to help classify, conservation and development);

(2) help us in collaboration with the Departments of Science and Technology of provinces in the highland for implementing conservation measures for 7 species of coniferous.