Trans situ conservation strategies to conserve the extinction risk species, Sesamum prostratum Retz., a crop wild relative of sesame being endemic to coastal strand habitat: a case study

Coastal strands ecosystem is a narrow strip of land adjacent to seashore and is often prone to natural or man-made disturbances. Conserving the endangered and endemic plant species having coastal strands as their niche habitat is challenging and requires special conservation drives. One such endemic species along the coastal strands of Indian sub-continent (Eastern coasts of Southern India and Sri Lanka) is the potentially saline tolerant crop wild relative (CWR) of sesame, Sesamum prostratum Retz. In our recent collecting expedition for this species, we have reported the dwindling nature of this species' occurrence and a risk assessment for this species as per the IUCN guidelines underscored to be of critically endangered (CR) category. The IUCN had already declared this endemic species as CR in Sri Lanka during 2012. Using this as a case study for the way forward, we discuss here on the appropriate management measures that can be taken up to efficiently conserve the endemic species of disturbed habitats to prevent them from the risk of extinction through suitable conservation measures. Importance of CWRs in crop improvement through trait introgression and crop diversification through de novo domestication events are demonstrated in rice and tomato using gene editing tools. Potentialities of the trans situ conservation measures, the most appropriate, to avoid further decline in the occurrences of S. prostratum Retz., and its applicability for other threatened (endemic) species of fragmented habitat is also discussed.