Cochlearia macrorrhiza, a highly endangered lowland species from Eastern Austria -: Conservation genetics, ex situ and in situ conservation efforts

The highly endangered endemic Cochlearia macrorrhiza (Brassicaceae) is currently represented by two individuals only at its natural stand in Moosbrunn near Vienna, Austria. A second sub-population has been cultivated in Berlin for nearly two decades. Therefore, a research and conservation programme has been initiated to measure genetic variation and fitness parameters of plants from both subpopulations in order to (1) confirm the authentic origin of the material from Berlin, (2) to evaluate the taxonomic status of C. macrorrhiza, and (3) to detect genetic markers distinguishing the gene pools of both subpopulations for future breeding programs. In parallel, phenotypic characters and fitness parameters have been measured to test for significant differences between subpopulations. The aim is to establish a large population sampling for ex situ cultivation, to build up an ex situ seed bank, and to start a re-introduction experiment.