Calopogon tuberosus Research on the FPNWR

Philip Kauth University of Florida

Calopogon tuberosus � Terrestrial orchid

� Eastern North America � Corm forming

� Large distribution � Habitat differences

� 2 varieties � var. tuberosus � var. simpsonii

Calopogon Research � Seed germination research

� Origin and environmental conditions � Seedling transplant study

� Timing and what to plant � Distinguishing varieties

� How to distinguish � Implications

� Population source � Restoration activities

Seed Germination Research � Seeds collected from:

� FPNWR � North central FL � South Carolina (3 locations) � Northern Michigan

� Procedures � Photoperiod � Germination media � Temperature � Seedling development � All seed germination experiments = 8 weeks

Seed Germination Method

Mature seeds Surface sterilization 90 ml sterile water 5 ml 100% ethanol 5 ml bleach (6% NaOCl) 3 minutes Rinse in sterile water

Inoculate seeds

Photoperiod Results

Stage 4 Green

Stage 1 Black

Stage 3 Gray

Stage 5 Blue

Stage 2 Red

Stage 6 Orange

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Germination medium: P723 Temperature: 25 C

Media Results � South Carolina

� Higher mineral salts

� Michigan � Organic nitrogen � High micronutrients

� Florida � Other cues?

Photoperiod: 12/12 Temperature: 25 C

Temperature � South Carolina

� Wetlands

� Michigan & N Florida � Seasonal cue

� South Florida � Warm and cold stratification

� Diurnal temps � Burial or gaps

12/12 photoperiod Germination medium: BM-1 Seasonal temperatures in Gainesville

� 22/11 (winter) � 27/15 (fall) � 29/19 (spring) � 33/24 (summer) � 25 (control)

Cold-Stratification � Chilling improved germination � South Carolina

� Major improvement � NC Florida

� Any length � Michigan

� Longer chilling?

Germination medium: BM-1

Cold-Treatments Control, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks Seeds chilled in dark at 10 C After chill:12/12 photoperiod and 24 C

Biomass Allocation

Each data point represents the mean of 27 seedlings S.E.

Michigan

South Carolina North Central Florida

South Florida

Seedlings after 20 weeks culture Scale bars = 1 cm

Transplant Study � April 2008

� Seedlings vs corms � 3 transects

� 4 quadrats (16 propagules)

� February 2009 � Burned vs unburned

� 2 transects each � 3 quadrats (16 propagules)

Transplant Study

� Short term � Survival = OK

� Survival =0 long term

Distinguishing varieties � var. tuberosus

� Throughout range � var. simpsonii

� South Florida � Lighter lip � White trichomes � Inrolled leaf

� Morphometrics � Measured 20 variables � Multivariate stats - PCA

Distinguishing varieties � No clear distinctions

Management Implications � Seed germination research

� What is the origin? � Adaptation differs

� Transplant study � What and when to plant

� Morphometrics � Know the plants � Seed collection