Boyce Thompson Arboretum’s Desert Legume Program Celebrates 30-Year Anniversary BY MATTHEW B. JOHNSON | PROGRAM MANAGER & CURATOR
The Desert Legume Program (DELEP) marks its 30th anniversary this June. DELEP was created in 1988, by Dr. R. Phillip Upchurch as a joint project of Boyce Thompson Arboretum and The University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. DELEP contributes to the research component of BTA’s mission and fills many other roles as well.
The mission of DELEP is:
1 2 3 4
To acquire and preserve in perpetuity seed of legumes native to the arid and semiarid lands of the world, To learn more about the nature and utility of these unique species,
To share this germplasm with professionals and laypeople having a legitimate interest, and To aid in the preservation and conservation of desert legume biodiversity through both in situ and ex situ means.
DELEP is unique in focusing on wild species of legumes (Fabaceae) from dry regions. This group of plants was selected for several reasons: 1.) The Fabaceae is the third largest plant family worldwide, with nearly 20,000 species, and is well-represented in the floras of dry regions. 2.) Wild legumes are understudied in terms of their economic potential. 3.)As a group, legumes are second only to the cereal grains in terms of their importance to humanity. 4.) Legumes are utilized in many ways including food crops, forage crops, green manure, forestry, sources of medicines, industrial compounds, erosion control, shade and shelter,
8 | Boyce Thompson Arboretum | Summer 2018
