Look: Inside UAE lab preserving nature, one seed at a time

Khaleej Times

3 days ago

uae seeds plantsIn a high-tech centre tucked in the rugged landscape of Al Ain, scientists in lab coats gently sort through tiny particles of dust-like seeds. Their work, quietly unfolding in cold rooms, greenhouses, and herbariums, may well be the most crucial in securing the UAE's natural future.
The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) is preserving the country's delicate web of native flora and fauna through the Plant Genetic Resource Centre (PGRC), a national facility with a mission to study, sequence and store every possible plant species found across the Emirates — from coastal seagrasses to desert shrubs — and ensure their survival for generations to come.
'This centre is not only for the emirate of Abu Dhabi; it's for the whole UAE,' explained Salama Al Mansoori, a plant conservation specialist at PGRC. 'We are covering freshwater plants, terrestrial plants, and marine plants – it's everything.'
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Launched in March 2024, PGRC began its work by sequencing six of the most vulnerable native species — a process that, while sounding clinical, is intensely physical and time-sensitive. Among the first plants sequenced were the grey mangrove ( Avicennia marina ), dwarf palm ( Nannorrhops ritchieana ), rare mountain shrub ( Acridocarpus orientalis ), narrow-leaf seagrass ( Halodule uninervis ), and the iconic ghaf tree ( Prosopis cineraria ).
'Sometimes for just one plant, you have to go to the field in a very specific season,' said Maher Kabashawi, head of seed collection and preservation. 'You collect when it's still green and soft. Then bring it to the lab, crush it, extract the DNA… and sometimes, you still don't get good results. You have to go out and do it again. It's a long process.' From field to freezer
Inside the lab, specialists like Nuri Asmita sort seeds manually, using machines that separate debris with vacuum-like precision. 'This is our introduction and cleaning lab,' she said, demonstrating a device that prepares seeds for preservation. 'We use it to clean the soil and debris. Every sample comes here first.'
Once cleaned and dried to a precise humidity level, the seeds are moved to a cryopreservation chamber. At minus 20°C, the room is cold enough to preserve seeds for up to 100 years. A separate tissue cryobank stores genetic material at –196°C in liquid nitrogen.
'The more you reduce humidity and temperature, the longer you can preserve seeds,' Maher explained. 'Even 1% more humidity can reduce viability by five years.'
The centre currently holds 580 seed samples across 130 species — part of a long-term goal to conserve all 600 native plants known to the UAE. A place for every plant
The PGRC doesn't just preserve seeds. In a sunlit herbarium, dried and pressed plants are mounted on special sheets designed to last a century. 'We've digitised over 3,000 specimens with metadata,' said Sabitha Sakkir, a flora scientist. 'The identification part is the most difficult. You can't name what you don't know.'
In another corner, she introduces visitors to the UAE's first fungarium , a growing collection of dried fungi. Stored in containers with silica gel, it's a scientific first for a region often assumed to be barren of fungal life. 'So far, we've identified around 10 species — some up to genus level only. This is the first time we are conserving fungal diversity in the UAE.'
A standout specimen: Ganoderma colossum , a massive mushroom discovered in Abu Dhabi. 'We don't know yet if it's poisonous or edible,' she said. 'But the genus is known for its medicinal value.' Nature and culture intertwined
Beyond the science, PGRC's work is deeply cultural. Many native plants once formed the bedrock of local life — as food, medicine, or part of traditional practices. A humble wild chickpea with a tangy flavour, for instance, was once foraged and eaten like a salad.
'Our plants have always been important,' said Al Mansoori. 'From gardens to fishing to the economy — everything depended on them.'
Some species have spiritual significance, like the Sidr tree, prized for its medicinal qualities and honey. 'It is one of the most important trees in the UAE,' she said. 'It's coming up in our next round of sequencing.'
Others are ecologically vital. The endemic capparis cartilaginea , found only in the Hajar mountains, is the sole host plant for the endangered giant skipper butterfly. 'The butterfly depends on its leaves,' she explained. 'So if we lose the plant, we lose the insect.' Not just a lab – a living classroom
Although not yet open to the general public, the centre regularly hosts school and university groups. A summer programme will soon give students hands-on experience with seed banks, herbariums, and more.
'The goal is to give students the opportunity to interact directly with the work we do here,' said Jamal Alzaidaneen, director of PGRC. 'To create a connection between young people and the environment.'
In the expansive glasshouse — a 1,000m² replica of five UAE habitats — more than 65 plant species are cultivated under controlled conditions. Each plant has an Arabic and English label, and researchers monitor their flowering and behavioural changes across seasons.
Approaching the cryopreservation chamber, a figure bundled in a winter coat, ski gloves and hoodie greeted us at the door. 'Welcome to Alaska,' said Mohammed Hayez, Specialist in Terrestrial Protected Areas Management, gesturing towards the seed storage room chilled to –20°C.
Inside this icy vault, 580 samples from 130 plant species are stored under precise conditions. Maher Kabashawi, head of seed collection and preservation at PGRC, explained that this is just the beginning. 'Our aim is to conserve all 600 native species in the UAE, but we can't do it all at once. So we start with priorities — such as the 23 species identified as threatened in Abu Dhabi under the IUCN Red List.'
Field expeditions are planned accordingly. 'For example, if I'm targeting the wild almond, I'll go to the area where it's known to grow. At the same time, I'll collect whatever else I encounter,' said Kabashawi. While he focuses on gathering seeds, colleagues collect live plants for the herbarium, and leaf tissues for cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen at –196°C. 'You can't just freeze a seed immediately,' he added. 'If you don't dry it properly first, it will explode. Only when the seed's humidity is reduced to around 3 percent can it be stored safely at –20°C. Even a 1 percent increase in humidity can reduce the seed's lifespan by five years.'