Vilnius University (VU) Botanical Garden
VU Botanical Garden was established in 1781. In 240 years, the Garden has become an integral part of science, as well as educational and social life of communities of Vilnius University and Lithuanian capital. Historical circumstances have led for the Botanical Garden to be relocated several times. Today it is located, awaits visitors and provides various services even in two places: the main part of 191,5 ha (since 1974) is in Kairėnai, and the other part of 7,35 ha is in Vingis Park (since 1919). The total area of the Garden is 199 ha, it is the largest in Lithuania. The Garden can be interesting for history lovers, because in Kairėnai it is located in an old manor site and the Vingis Department does not lack traces of history as well.
The garden in Kairėnai is open to visitors all year round, and the Vingis Department is open only during the warm season. Garden provides many services such as rent of infrastructure, picnic area and conference facilities, offers educational programs and various excursions.
Vilnius University Botanical Garden, Kairėnų str. 43, Vilnius.
Vingis Department of Vilnius University Botanical Garden, M. K. Čiurlionio str. 110, Vilnius.
VU Botanical Garden is an important multifunctional Centre for a society that is inseparably integrated into the structure of Vilnius University, actively contributes to the University's strategic goals and objectives. At the same time, the Garden is one of the most open departments’ of the University, the representative botanical garden of Lithuania. The Garden develops various activities relevant to the general public, promoting environmental and sustainable development ideas, is an active, recognized partner both in the country and at the international level.
Strategic Objectives
1. Striving to achieve the VU Botanical Garden to become an authoritative institution recognized as in Lithuania as at the international level: managing in modern fashion large and high-quality collections of plants, carrying out scientific researches, gathering knowledge and implementing programs for biodiversity conservation and genetic resources of plants (both national and international).
2. To ensure that the activities of the Garden meet the expectations of the academic community of the University as well as the general public: to serve to the academic, environmental, educational, cultural, recreational, tourism goals; to enhance the popularity of the garden, and to promote the University.
3. To become a modern, multifunctional Centre with an appropriately developed infrastructure contributing to the overall strategic goals and objectives of the University and representing as well as Vilnius University, as Lithuania and its Capital for the World.
Total No. of accessions – 13779; No. of taxa – 11 000 (on 4 January 2017). The VU BG contains a repository of representatives of 445 autochthonous (spontaneous) plant species of Lithuanian Flora, which makes the Garden attractive for extended plant studies in the areas of the fundamental and applied sciences.
There is for managing of plant collections used online database - "Index Plantarum" of Vilnius University Botanical Garden (http://botsodas.lt/indexplantarum ).
Plant Biology, Molecular Research and Biotechnology (2016-2020) under the direction of VU researches: 14. Genomics and Biotechnology: Basic and Applied Research.
There are studied in the Garden genetic diversity of blueberry honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.), European yew (Taxus baccata L.) and mutants of barley. There caries out researches: of mycorrhizal relationships of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings - the diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungal community structures in root system of Scots pine in relation to plant cultivation in forestry; of biology of tulips and gladioli assessing resistance of plants to fungal diseases and viral infection; studies in plant photo physiology by using the LED lightning for plant growth improvement in greenhouses; of in vitro biotechnology for propagation of plants.
BG VU has been pursuing a long-term goal-focused at the implementation of DNA plant barcoding as a modern means for effective management of plant biodiversity. By the membership at CBOL and ECBOL, the scientific staff has been acquiring DNA coding techniques.
VU Botanical Garden is performing the function of the Centre for Coordination of Research of Ornamental Plant Genetic Resources of Lithuania (in accordance with the orders of the Ministry of Environment and Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania: No. 450/1470 since 2002) and the function of Administrator of Central European database of orchard plants in genera Ribes L. and Rubus L. (www.ribes-rubus.gf.vu.lt) since 2004, according to the agreement with International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (Italy).
VU BG takes part in COST program, activity FP1305 “Linking belowground biodiversity and ecosystem function in European forests”.
http://www.cost.eu/COST_Actions/fps/Actions/FP1305?management
In 2007-2011 VU BG participated in the EC funded project RIBESCO - “Core Collection of Northern European Gene Pool of Ribes”.
