Dissertation Project: Symbiotic Seed Germination, Mycorrhizal Associations, and Genetics of Federally Threatened Platanthera praeclara (Western Prairie Fringed Orchid)
Platanthera praeclara Sheviak and Bowles is a federally threatened terrestrial orchid native to the midwestern prairies. It exhibits a bimodal pattern of population sizes with most larger populations restricted to the northern part of the range of the species (Northern Minnesota, North Dakota, and Manitoba). Greater likelihood of extirpation in small populations raises concern for its conservation. 'Platanthera praeclara Recovery Plan' calls for use of artificial propagation but no reliable method has previously been documented. Inclusion of naturally-occurring mycorrhizal fungi in plants cultivated via in vitro symbiotic seed propagation makes them more suitable, when compared to asymbiotically grown plants, for use in reintroduction projects. Studies are being conducted to:
(1) determine the relationship between population size and seed germinability
(2) identify the fungal isolate(s) that best aid germination
(3) determine the optimal stratification period (cold/moist pre-treatment) to maximize germination.
(4) determine genetic variation (via protein electrophoresis) within and among eight populations of varying sizes
(5) characterize fungal isolates recovered from the roots of P. praeclara
(6) determine seed germinability in situ
FOOT NOTE:
Platanthera praeclara is one of the 25 species chosen by the NWF's Keep the Wild Alive conservation campaign.....http://www.nwf.org/wildalive/orchid/