Plant Protection through Technology funding
Applying GRIPP technology for plant protection
The Gosling Foundation will consider contributing to projects that apply technology from the Gosling Research Institute for Plant Preservation (GRIPP) to address ecological restoration challenges.
Background
From the mid-1980s, the Foundation supported efforts at the University of Guelph’s Arboretum to collect American elm specimens that had survived the onslaught of Dutch elm disease in Ontario. Building on this research, Foundation director Susan Gosling collaborated with Dr. Praveen Saxena at the University of Guelph to clone disease-tolerant American elms.
From the mid-1980s, the Foundation supported efforts at the University of Guelph’s Arboretum to collect American elm specimens that had survived the onslaught of Dutch elm disease in Ontario. Building on this research, Foundation director Susan Gosling collaborated with Dr. Praveen Saxena at the University of Guelph to clone disease-tolerant American elms.
Since then, researchers at GRIPP have developed techniques to:
• cryopreserve tissue from threatened plant species
• identify disease-tolerant germplasm in plants using biochemical and molecular markers
• regenerate large numbers of preserved specimens in order to reintroduce them into the wild
• cryopreserve tissue from threatened plant species
• identify disease-tolerant germplasm in plants using biochemical and molecular markers
• regenerate large numbers of preserved specimens in order to reintroduce them into the wild
Today, GRIPP is working to conserve 11 endangered and threatened plant species. For example, in 2018, GRIPP reintroduced Hill’s thistle plants preserved in the GRIPP cryobank to Ontario’s Bruce Peninsula National Park. These plants survived well and flowered just like the natural population.
Deadline
Proposals can be submitted at any time and are considered at least quarterly: January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1.
Proposals can be submitted at any time and are considered at least quarterly: January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1.
How to apply
Please contact the Foundation’s executive director to discuss possible applications: skozak@goslingfoundation.org.
Please contact the Foundation’s executive director to discuss possible applications: skozak@goslingfoundation.org.