Botanic gardens around the world may unknowingly be harming the endangered corpse flower, Amorphophallus titanum, due to incomplete historical data that affects genetic diversity and contributes to population decline.
Researchers from Northwestern University and the Chicago Botanic Garden have recently uncovered a critical issue: gaps in breeding records of this rare plant.
The corpse flower, also known for its foul odor that mimics rotting flesh, faces multiple threats including habitat loss, climate change, and invasive species. However, this new study highlights an additional risk: incomplete or absent records of the plant’s breeding history.
Researchers traced the ancestry of corpse flowers in botanical gardens and other collections worldwide and discovered a significant lack of standardized data.
Without accurate breeding information, conservationists have been unable to make informed decisions about crossbreeding, which has led to a worrying trend—nearly a quarter of the plants studied were clones, and 27% were the result of inbreeding.
The findings, published in the journal Annals of Botany, raise concerns about the long-term survival of the corpse flower. According to Olivia Murrell, the study’s lead author, “Low genetic diversity has many risks. Over time, it can lead to weaker plants that struggle to thrive, produce less pollen, or even die right after blooming.”
Murrell shared an alarming example of inbreeding where all offspring of one collection turned out to be albino, unable to photosynthesize due to lack of chlorophyll, resulting in their death.
Murrell, who conducted the study while completing her master’s degree at Northwestern, now pursues her Ph.D. at Manchester Metropolitan University in the U.K.
The research team, including senior authors Jeremie Fant, Nyree Zerega, and Kayri Havens, are conservation scientists at the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Negaunee Institute for Plant Conservation Science and Action.
The corpse flower, renowned for its massive blooms and overpowering odor, has become a star attraction at botanic gardens worldwide. The flower’s scent draws in carrion flies and beetles, its primary pollinators.
However, due to the plant’s infrequent and brief flowering period, which lasts only 24 to 48 hours, many gardens host special events when the flower blooms, allowing visitors to experience its intense fragrance up close.
However, conserving the corpse flower is no easy feat. Unlike most plants, its seeds cannot be preserved in traditional seed banks because they lose viability once dried. Instead, the plant relies on “living collections” in botanical gardens, arboreta, and research facilities for conservation.
This is where the challenge lies, as male and female flowers bloom at different times, making natural cross-pollination difficult. Caretakers often resort to using pollen from previous blooms, which can lead to inbreeding, further reducing genetic diversity.
Murrell’s study involved gathering data from nearly 1,200 corpse flowers housed in 111 institutions across North America, Asia, Australia, and Europe.
Unfortunately, much of the data came in inconsistent formats, including handwritten notes, prose, lists, and spreadsheets. Comprehensive and standardized records are essential for maintaining genetic diversity and the overall health of these plants.
Without detailed information about a plant’s origin, parents, and health, conservationists face difficulty in making informed breeding decisions that would ensure a robust future for the species.
The researchers emphasize that while the problems identified are largely due to lack of data rather than intentional actions, the consequences for the species are dire. If these gaps are not addressed, the genetic diversity of the corpse flower will continue to decline, increasing the risk of extinction.
