In situ symbiotic seed germination and propagation of terrestrial orchid seedlings for establishment at field sites
A. L. Batty A B D , M. C. Brundrett A C , K. W. Dixon A and K. Sivasithamparam BA Science Directorate, Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, Kings Park and Botanic Garden, West Perth, WA 6005, Australia.
B School of Earth and Geographical Sciences (Soil Science Discipline), Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
C School of Plant Biology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: abatty@bgpa.wa.gov.au
Australian Journal of Botany 54(4) 375-381 https://doi.org/10.1071/BT04024
Submitted: 12 February 2004 Accepted: 29 October 2005 Published: 22 June 2006
Abstract
The establishment of five species of temperate terrestrial orchids (Caladenia arenicola Hopper & A.P.Brown, Diuris magnifica D.L.Jones, D. micrantha D.L.Jones, Pterostylis sanginea D.LJones & M.A.Clem. and Thelymitra manginiorum ms) in natural habitat through in situ seed sowing, or by planting of seedlings and dormant tubers, was evaluated. Seed of the Western Australian temperate terrestrial taxa, Caladenia arenicola and Pterostylis sanguinea germinated best when sown into soil inoculated with mycorrhizal fungi at field sites but failed to develop the tubers necessary for surviving summer dormancy. However, seedling survival improved when actively growing symbiotic seedlings were transferred to natural habitat during the growing season. Caladenia arenicola and P. sanguinea seedlings survived the initial transfer to field sites but only P. sanguinea survived into the second growing season. Highest survival was obtained by translocating dormant tubers of C. arenicola and Diuris magnifica, with D. magnifica persisting at the site 5 years after translocation. However, outplanted C. arenicola survived for only 2 years. In another trial, where seedlings and dormant tubers of a rare orchid Thelymitra manginiorum were translocated into eucalypt woodland, 18% persisted after 5 years. The rare orchid D. micrantha exhibited the highest survival rates, with greater than 80% of tubers surviving 5 years after transfer of mature dormant tubers to field sites. This study highlights the benefit of using optimised methods for seedling production by symbiotic germination and nursery growth to produce advanced seedlings or dormant tubers to maximise the survival of translocated plants. It also demonstrates the need to consider different strategies when dealing with individual species.
Acknowledgments
The conservation of terrestrial orchids in Western Australia requires further research to help prevent loss of diversity. Western Power, Perth’s supplier of electricity, recognised the plight of the states threatened flora and provided the necessary financial support for this study to help save critically endangered terrestrial orchids. The first two authors were supported by funding from the ARC.
Batty AL,
Dixon KW, Sivasithamparam K
(2000) Soil seed-bank dynamics of terrestrial orchids. Lindleyana 15, 227–236.
Batty AL,
Dixon KW,
Brundrett M, Sivasithamparam K
(2001a) The long-term storage of mycorrhizal fungi and seed as a tool for the conservation of endangered terrestrial orchids. Australian Journal of Botany 49, 619–628.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Batty AL,
Dixon KW,
Brundrett M, Sivasithamparam K
(2001b) Constraints to symbiotic germination of terrestrial orchid seed in mediterranean woodland. New Phytologist 152, 511–520.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Batty AL,
Brundrett MC,
Dixon KW, Sivasithamparam K
(2006) New methods to improve symbiotic propagation of temperate terrestrial orchid seedlings from axenic culture to soil. Australian Journal of Botany 54, 367–374.
Brundrett MC,
Scade A,
Batty AL,
Dixon KW, Sivasithamparam K
(2003) Development of in situ and ex situ seed baiting techniques to detect mycorrhizal fungi for terrestrial orchid conservation. Mycological Research 107, 1210–1220.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |
Clements MA
(1988) Orchid mycorrhizal associations. Lindleyana 3, 73–86.
Clements MA, Ellyard RK
(1979) The symbiotic germination of Australian terrestrial orchids. American Orchid Society Bulletin 48, 810–816.
Jusaitis M, Sorensen B
(1993) Germination of Pterostylis arenicola—an endangered greenhood orchid from South Australia. Orchadian 11, 18–22.
McKendrick SL
(1995) The effects of herbivory and vegetation on laboratory-raised Dactylorhiza praetermissa (Orchidaceae) planted into grassland in southern England. Biological Conservation 73, 215–220.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ramsay MM
(1998) Re-establishment of the lady’s slipper orchid (Cypripedium calceolus L.) in Britain. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 126, 173–181.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rubluo A,
Chavez V, Martinez A
(1989) In vitro seed germination and re-introduction of Bletia urbana (Orchidaceae) in its natural habitat. Lindleyana 4, 68–73.
Scade A,
Brundrett MC,
Batty AL,
Dixon KW, Sivasithamparam K
(2006) Survival of transplanted terrestrial orchid seedlings in urban bushland habitats with high or low weed cover. Australian Journal of Botany 54, 383–389.
Stewart SL, Zettler LW
(2002) Symbiotic germination of three semi-aquatic rein orchids (Habenaria repens, H. guingueseta, H. macroceratitis) from Florida. Aquatic Botany 72, 25–35.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tieu A,
Dixon KW,
Meney KA, Sivasithamparam K
(2001) Influence of soil burial and smoke germination patterns in seeds of selected Australian native plants. Seed Science Research 11, 69–76.
Warcup JH
(1971) Specificity of mycorrhizal associations in some Australian terrestrial orchids. New Phytologist 70, 41–46.
| Crossref |
Warcup JH
(1973) Symbiotic germination of some Australian terrestrial orchids. New Phytologist 72, 387–392.
| Crossref |
Zettler LW, McInnis TM
(1992) Propagation of Platanthera integrilabia (Correll) Luer, an endangered terrestrial orchid, through symbiotic seed germination. Lindleyana 7, 154–161.
