Propagation of Rare and Endangered Species at the State

Botanical Garden of Georgia

Dr. Jim Affolter

University of Georgia

2010 Curators Workshop

Silene polypetalaFringed Campion

The State Botanical Garden of Georgia• A unit within the University of Georgia• 313 acres, including 35 acres of accessioned collections• Serves a university and public audience, ca. 200,000

visitors annually• Member of the Center for Plant Conservation and Botanic

Gardens Conservation International

Why do we propagate rare and endangered species?

• Ex situ safeguarding• Reintroduction projects• Research• Public display

Lindera melissifolia is a federally protected species threatened by the recent spread of laurel wilt disease

Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance (GPCA)

• Membership includes

botanical gardens,

NGOs, government

agencies, utility companies, colleges and universities in the state

• Established in 1995• Collaborate on rare plant

research, management and education projects

Elliottia racemosa

Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance GPCA Member Organizations• Atlanta Botanical Garden

• Atlanta History Museum• Callaway Gardens• Chattahoochee Nature Center• Coastal Plain Research Arboretum• Fort Valley State University• Georgia Botanical Society• Georgia Department of Natural Resources• Georgia Department of Transportation• GA Exotic Pest Plant Council• Georgia Native Plant Society• Georgia Power• Georgia Southern Botanical Garden• Georgia Wildlife Federation• Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research

Station• The Nature Conservancy of Georgia • TNC at Fort Benning• North Georgia College and State University• The State Botanical Garden of Georgia• The University of Georgia• USDA Forest Service• US Fish and Wildlife Service• Valdosta State University Herbarium• Zoo Atlanta

Typical Propagation Sequence for Rare and Endangered Plants

• Cold stratification• Grow Lab (fluorescent light)• Greenhouse• Outdoor Propagation Area

Ex Situ Safeguarding

Baptisia arachnifera

Reintroduction of Echinacea laevigata and woodland prairie associates

(Heather Alley)

Echinacea associates propagated at SBG for Currahee Mountain Outplanting

• Asclepias viridiflora (S3) Green Milkweed• Clematis ochroleuca (S2) Curly-heads• Helianthus strumosus (NR) Pale-leaf Sunflower• Lysimachia fraseri (S1) Fraser’s Loosestrife• Oligoneuron album (S3) Prairie Goldenrod• Sericocarpus linifolius (NR) Narrow-leaf Whitetop Aster• Symphyotrichum (S2) Georgia Aster

georgianum

Granite Rock Outcrops

• Piedmont rock outcrops support many endemic species and are a unique feature of the southeastern flora

• Outcrops are threatened by development, quarrying, dumping, recreational abuse, and invasive species

Piedmont Rock Outcrop Habitats

• Range from Virginia to Alabama; by surface area ¾ of the outcrops (6,000 acres) are in Georgia

• Granite, gneiss, or quartzite; high in Si and Al, low in Fe and Mg

• Vegetation differs significantly form surrounding plant communities and exhibits a high level of endemism (many species with closest relatives in the arid Southwest and Mexico)

• “Desert islands” in a surrounding sea of mesic environments

Adapting to a Harsh Environment

• High light environment and heat absorbing capacity of rocks result in high summer temperatures

• Rainfall runs off rapidly• Irregular weathering of rock

face creates numerous microenvironments

• Plant adaptations include succulence, reflective hairs, annual life cycle, CAM physiology

Seed Germination Study(Suzzanne Tate)

Analyze stratification requirements needed to break seed dormancy in representative species associated with pied- mont rock outcrops.

Juncus georgianus Juncaceae Endemic

Lindernia monticola Scrophulariaceae Near endemic

Crotonopsis elliptica EuphorbiaceaeAssociate

Hypericum gentianoides HypericaceaeAssociate

Viguiera porteri Asteraceae Near endemic

Aster avitus Asteraceae Endemic

Species with seeds that were available in sufficient quantity

Seeds were exposed to three temperature treatments simulating

seasonal conditions:

• Spring/Fall (18/10°C)

• Summer (35/20°C)

• Winter (8°C)

Juncus georgianus (Summer group)

Seed collected June 29

X = 4, 8, 12, 16 weeks

Juncus georgianusWarm Treatments

Days

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18

Perc

ent G

erm

inat

ion

0

20

40

60

80

100

Control4 weeks 35/20oC8 weeks 35/20oC12 weeks 35/20oC16 weeks 35/20oC

Juncus georgianusWarm + Cold Treatments

Days

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18Pe

rcen

t Ger

min

atio

n

0

20

40

60

80

100

Control4 weeks 35/20oC, 8 weeks 8oC8 weeks 35/20oC, 8 weeks 8oC12 weeks 35/20oC, 8 weeks 8oC16 weeks 35/20oC, 8 weeks 8oC

Aster avitus (Fall group)

Collected Nov. 6

X = 4, 8, 11

Aster avitusAll Treatments

Days

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18

Pe

rce

nt G

erm

ina

tion

0

20

40

60

80

100

Control4 weeks 8oC8 weeks 8oC11 weeks 8oC

General Conclusions

• Temperature fluctuations were important in controlling dormancy in all species studied

• Fruit maturation time was a good indicator for stratification times needed to break dormancy and induce germination

• Further research needed to develop production protocols for use of these species in green roof settings, etc.

Pitcherplant Bog

Micropropagation of Georgia Plume

InductionYoung leaf explants TDZ+IAA (1 month)

Shoot developmentSame medium (2 months)

Multiplication & Elongation2iP medium

Rooting and acclimation(2 months)Regenerated plant

Culture lines initiated from populations in the field