| Abstract Detail
Symbioses: Plant, Animal, and Microbe Interactions McCormick, Meghan [1]. Germination of Cypripedium parviflorum, (Orchidaceae) Seeds Using Crude Soil Inoculm. Cypripedium parviflorum is a species of temperate terrestrial orchid having a widespread distribution in the United States; however, it is listed by the USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region as a sensitive plant species. C. parviflorum, seeds lack nutrient reserves and require fungal symbionts to germinate. The effect of soil on C. parviflorum germination rates from 10 sites was studied. I tested the hypothesis that germination rates of C. parviflorum will respond to the presence or absence of particular fungal symbiont species in the different soils. Sites ranged in quality from known orchid sites to proposed orchid hostile habitats. Seeds were exposed to crude soil inoculm using one of three seed baiting techniques: 1) Petri plates containing cellulose agar, 2) Petri plates containing a simplified soil microcosm, and 3) ex-situ seed baits in pots with soil collected from test sites. Asymbiotic germination of seeds on nutrient agar was used as a control. The asymbiotic germination percentages were low (<5%). In support of my hypothesis, the ex-situ seed baits in pots had variation in germination success between sites. The simplified soil microcosms exhibited higher seed vitality rates with treatment of soil from known orchid sites, suggesting that germination rates will be correspondingly higher in those sites. Soils from sites that co-relate with high seed vitality or seed germination, may indicate potential C. parviflorum habitats.
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1 - Weber State University, Department of Botany, Ogden, UT, 84408, USA
Keywords:
Mycotrophic
Cypripedium parviflorum
orchid mycorrhizae
seed baits.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Topics
Session: 64
Location: Wasatch B/Cliff Lodge - Level C
Date: Wednesday, July 29th, 2009
Time: 11:15 AM
Number: 64005
Abstract ID:156 |
