Hawaiian Plant DNA Library (HAW-HPDL)

Since 1992, the University of Hawaii has been collecting and extracting DNA from native Hawaiian plants. This has culminated in the production of the Hawaiian Plant DNA Library (HPDL) with over 6,380 accessions to date. Although many of these collections are of multiple individuals in plant populations, there are extensive collections from various trips throughout the islands. Approximately 86% of the plant genera in Hawaii are represented and over 50% of the species. Many of these plants are endangered, and some are also extinct in the wild.

DNA is available for use by all researchers. Most DNA was extracted using a modification of the CTAB and then purified by banding in cesium chloride.

The majority of the accessions were obtained from natural populations, many accessions were also obtained from plants grown in various arboreta and botanical gardens. These collections include: Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanic Garden (Hawaii), Foster Gardens (Oahu), Lyon Arboretum (Oahu), National Tropical Botanical Garden (Kauai), and Waimea Botanical Garden (Oahu).

References:

Randell, R.A. and C.W. Morden. 1999. Hawaiian Plant DNA library II: endemic, indigenous, and introduced species. Pacific Science 53: 401-417.

Morden, C. W., V. C. Caraway, T. J. Motley. 1996. Development of a DNA library for native Hawaiian plants. Pacific Science 50: 324-335.