4.4 Germplasm conservation of P. villosa
Psammochloa villosa is a dominant species in its desert habitat and sometimes the only herbaceous species occurring within its plant community. It helps to maintain a fragile desert ecosystem by preventing wind erosion, development of quicksand, and further desertification (Cai, 2016). While we found that it is a species of least concern (LC) based on EOO, we believe that it can only continue to perform its vital ecosystem services if its populations remain large and abundant.
This species may have great potential for sustainable utilization as a forage plant for livestock. The sand whips have relatively long inflorescences with large spikes that make it suitable for forage. Moreover, its adaptations to drought may make it a valuable source of genetic resources for molecular breeding of other crop and forage species as, presently, it is one of few forage species that can withstand the intensifying long-term drought conditions in northwest China. Developing a sustainable use strategy for P. villosa will also help to ensure its continued availability as a keystone species within desert communities of the Inner Mongolian Plateau and adjacent areas.