Seed Cryopreservation, Germination, and Micropropagation of Eastern Turkeybeard, <i>Xerophyllum asphodeloides</i> (L.) Nutt.: A Threatened Species from the Southeastern United States
Michelle Issac,
Princy Kuriakose,
Stacie Leung,
Alex B. Costa,
Shannon Johnson,
Kylie Bucalo,
Jonathan M. Stober,
Ron O. Determann,
Will L. Rogers,
Jenifer M. Cruse-Sanders,
Gerald S. Pullman
Affiliations
Michelle Issac
School of Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
Princy Kuriakose
School of Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
Stacie Leung
School of Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
Alex B. Costa
School of Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
Shannon Johnson
Renewable Bioproducts Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology (Formerly the Institute of Paper Science and Technology), 500 10th Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
Kylie Bucalo
Renewable Bioproducts Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology (Formerly the Institute of Paper Science and Technology), 500 10th Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
Jonathan M. Stober
US Forest Service, USDA, Talladega National Forest, Shoal Creek Ranger Dist, Heflin, AL 36264, USA
Ron O. Determann
Department of Conservation Research, Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Ave., NE, Atlanta, GA 30309, USA
Will L. Rogers
State Botanical Garden of Georgia, 2450 Milledge Avenue, Athens, GA 30605, USA
Jenifer M. Cruse-Sanders
Department of Conservation Research, Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Ave., NE, Atlanta, GA 30309, USA
Gerald S. Pullman
School of Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
Xerophyllum asphodeloides (Xerophyllaceae), known as eastern turkeybeard, is an herbaceous perennial found in eastern North America. Due to decline and destruction of its habitat, several states rank X. asphodeloides as “Imperiled” to “Critically Imperiled”. Protocols for seed cryopreservation, in vitro germination, sustainable shoot micropropagation, shoot establishment in soil, and seed germination are presented. Seeds from two tested sources were viable after 20 months of cryopreservation. Germination of isolated embryos in vitro was necessary to overcome strong seed dormancy. Shoot multiplication and elongation occurred on ½ MS medium without PGRs. Shoots rooted in vitro without PGRs or with 0.5 mg/L NAA or after NAA rooting powder treatment and placement in potting mix. When planted in wet, peaty soil mixes, shoots grew for two months and then declined. When planted in a drier planting mix containing aged bark, most plants continued growth. In the field, plant survival was 73% after three growing seasons. Safeguarding this species both ex situ and in situ is possible and offers a successful approach to conservation. Whole seeds germinated after double dormancy was overcome by incubation under warm moist conditions for 12 weeks followed by 12 weeks cold at 4 °C and then warm.
