The karyological database for the Flora of Germany (Vascular Plants)

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Georg Zizka
• Subject Area: Evolution and Systematics of Plants and Fungi
• Term: from 2015 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 271279082

Chromosome counts are important data for botanical biodiversity research. A standardized documentation for the Flora of Germany is, however, missing. Currently, data can only be retrieved with considerable effort, and often have a questionable quality. Current, state-of-the-art systematic research urgently needs a new, improved standard for documentation of chromosome counts and associated data for Germany, as well as an online database which gives access to quality-checked data. Hence, our project aims at: i) sustainably closing the gap for Germany. Long-term maintenance of the database is ensured by Senckenberg resources. ii) establishing a standard online accessible database with the possibility of online reporting of new chromosome numbers for German flora. iii) linking chromosome counts with collection/specimen data. This information will also be represented graphically by the data portal. iv) allowing automatic linking to other relevant databases. v) ensuring the continuous updating of systematic nomenclature by linking the database with the "Rothmaler" reference list of flowering plants and also serve the "Rothmaler" as a reference for chromosome numbers.

• DFG Programme: Research data and software (Scientific Library Services and Information Systems)
• Co-Investigators: Dr. Stefan Dressler (†); Dr. Juraj Paule; Dr. Marco Schmidt; Professor Dr. Karsten Wesche