Abstract Detail

Conservation Biology

Paris, Nathan J. [1], Cruse-Sanders, Jennifer M. [2], Boyd, Robert Steven [3].

Propagation by cuttings of the federally threatened vine Apios priceana (Fabaceae).

Apios priceana is a rare herbaceous perennial vine found in widely scattered, usually small populations in several eastern states. An underground tuber produces one to several twining stems in late spring, flowers and fruits are produced if rainfall is adequate during summer, and then stems die back to the tuber in fall. Seed production may be sporadic, so that seed collection for ex situ conservation can be problematic. We investigated if plants could be successfully propagated by rooting field-collected cuttings from a population at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. Two factors were investigated: donor plant size (small vs. large) and month of cutting collection (May vs. June). In addition to plant size, we included as an experimental factor whether or not a cutting was taken to document effects of cutting on growth and reproductive output. Cutting success (as indicated by formation of one or more tubers by the December after cuttings were collected) did not differ due to donor plant size but was greater for cuttings collected in June rather than May. In contrast, tubers produced by May cuttings were greater in number and larger. Large donor plants produced significantly more inflorescences and legumes than small donors, but there was no interaction of cutting treatment and donor plant size, indicating that both sizes of plants responded similarly to the cutting treatment. There was no significant effect of the cutting treatment on any variable, showing that donor plants recovered quickly after cuttings were taken. We conclude that propagation by cuttings is a viable method for rapidly producing plants for ex situ conservation purposes. We suggest that taking cuttings, in May from large plants, is the preferred strategy. Propagation by cuttings has the additional benefit of not significantly affecting growth or reproduction of donor plants and thus will minimally impact extant populations of this rare species.

1 - Auburn University, Department of Biological Sciences, 101 Rouse Life Sciences Bldg, Auburn University, AL, 36849-5407, USA
2 - Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Ave., NE, Atlanta, GA, 30309, USA
3 - Auburn University, Department Of Biological Sciences, 101 ROUSE LIFE SCIENCES BLDG, AUBURN UNIVERSITY, AL, 36849-5407, USA

Keywords:
asexual reproduction
conservation
Fabaceae.

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P, Conservation Biology Posters
Location: Exhibit Hall/Savannah International Trade and Convention Center
Date: Monday, August 1st, 2016
Time: 5:30 PM This poster will be presented at 5:30 pm. The Poster Session runs from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Posters with odd poster numbers are presented at 5:30 pm, and posters with even poster numbers are presented at 6:15 pm.
Number: PCB005
Abstract ID:337
Candidate for Awards:None