Micropropagation Lab

In 1991, the Lyon Arboretum initiated the Hawaiian Rare Plant Program (HRPP) utilizing micropropagation as a tool for plant genetic conservation. The objectives for this project are to (a) prevent further extinction of native Hawaiian plant species and Polynesian introduced crop plants, (b) propagate plants for approved restoration projects and garden use, and (c) initiate and maintain an in vitro germplasm collection of these "critically endangered" Hawaiian plants.

HRPP's primary focus is to preserve the plants that are most at risk of becoming extinct, such as the native plant species that have 20 or fewer representatives left in the wild. Lyon Arboretum works cooperatively, in joint conservation efforts with other Hawaiian botanical gardens, various state and federal agencies officially concerned with plant conservation and endangered species, private conservation agencies such as The Nature Conservancy, environmental organizations, and major private landowners.

What have we accomplished at the Lyon Arboretum Micropropagation Laboratory?

To date, the Lyon Arboretum Micropropagation Laboratory has successfully grown approximately 300 Hawaiian plant taxa using micropropagation techniques. Currently, there are more than 11,246 plants consisting of 218 native plant taxa (140 are federally listed as endangered or threatened), 67 varieties of taro, and 13 varieties of banana. These plants are in various stages of propagation and are maintained within the Lyon Arboretum Micropropagation Laboratory.