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Regeneration of Cross-pollinated Herbaceous Ornamentals. Susan Stieve Seed Crop Curator Ornamental Plant Germplasm Center The Ohio State University. Main Issues. Ornamental Plant Germplasm Center (OPGC) Germination Isolation and pollination in greenhouse and field
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Regeneration of Cross-pollinated Herbaceous Ornamentals Susan Stieve Seed Crop Curator Ornamental Plant Germplasm Center The Ohio State University
Main Issues • Ornamental Plant Germplasm Center (OPGC) • Germination • Isolation and pollination in greenhouse and field • X-ray-assisted seed cleaning • Monitoring stored seed
The OPGC • Currently over 260 genera • 2 Curatorial Teams: Seed and Clonal • Seed-propagated species include • Annuals, biennials, perennials • Seed dormancy • Cold tolerance • Day length requirements • Vernalization • Cultural requirements (pH, watering, media, fertilizer) • Technical Working Groups for 30 major genera • 6 full-time staff, many Ohio State undergraduate students (currently 11) and volunteers (6) • Currently writing operations manual
Germination • Typical sowing • 2 layers of 4” square blue blotter paper • Anchor Paper Company 1.800.652.9755 • Germination boxes 4-5/16” square, 1-3/8” high • Pioneer Plastics Prod. No. 156-C • 1.800.951.1551, www.pioneerplastics.com • Sow seed in the “lid” • Percival germinators • Model GR-36L, $13,000 • www.percival-scientific.com
Germination • Germination protocol may not be in AOSA, ISTA • Dormancy breaking • If no germination within 3 weeks of sowing germination boxes are placed at 40o F for 8 weeks • “Move-along” experiments by Baskin and Baskin mimic natural environmental changes • Have not tried KNO3 or GA • Will try sand and/or fungicides (Thiram) for rot control
Germination Box Percival Greenhouse sowing, plugs Transplanting
Seed Production • Hand pollination tedious, expensive • Necessary for some accessions (Petunia) • Field isolation cages (60%) • Greenhouse compartments effective for year-round seed production (40%) • 14,000 ft2 • 11 - 20’ x 30’ compartments • Insects including honey bees, blue bottle flies, and bumblebees have been successfully used
Field Cages-Screens • 7’ x 7’ x 21’ cages • Screen 14 x 18 mesh, amber color • SI Industries, GA • 1.800.341.8974 • $520 per cage incl. screen, frame (2004) • Redwood Empire Awning, CA • 707.588.9900 • $463 per cage incl. screen, frame (2004) • Velcro or zipper door
Field Cages-Frame • SI screen frame • ½” galvanized schedule 40 pipe • Pipes per cage • 21’ - 4 pieces • 7’ – 9 pieces • Kee Klamps per cage • 10-4, qty. 4 • 20-4, qty. 4 • 21-4, qty. 2 • 45-4, qty. 2 • Components purchased locally to save on shipping costs
Field Cages-Frame • Redwood screen frame • 1” Schedule 40 galvanized pipe (1-3/8” OD) • Pipes per cage, purchased locally • 21’ – 2 pieces • 7’ – 4 pieces • Fittings purchased from Redwood • 3-way – 4 per cage • 4-way – 2 per cage
Transplanting Field mulch, irrigation Bury screen Add pollinator at flowering
HID lights, mist Argus environmental control Vernalization, 40o F Capillary Mat
Pollinators • Honey Bees • $40/hive/season, OSU Honey Bee Lab • Short-lived in confinement • Difficult to move • Blue Bottle Flies • $5/1700 pupae from Forked Tree Ranch • 208.267.2632 • www.forkedtreeranch.com • Accidental pollinator • Good for flat flower morphologies
Dead honey bees in greenhouse Honey Bees Blue Bottle Fly Blue Bottle Fly on Rudbeckia
Pollinators • Bumblebees • $100 Research “B” class hive, 100 bees • Koppert 734.641.3763, www.koppert.com • Biobest via Plant Products Co. 905.793.7000, www.plantprod.com • Biobest has a good “Side Effects Manual” of pesticide compatibility • Hive good for 6-8 weeks in field or greenhouse • Easy to move, no maintenance • Work well for all plant species
Bumblebees Protect cardboard hive from water Antirrhinum
X-ray-Assisted Seed Cleaning • Faxitron • $64,000 • produces digital images in about 20 seconds
X-ray of Rudbeckia sp. Pre-blowing Post-blowing
X-ray of Ambrosia sp. Pre-blowing Post-blowing
Seed Monitoring • Currently over 5,000 accessions at OPGC, collection will continue to grow • Would need to do about 14 germination tests per week to test each lot once every 7 years • Need to develop species guidelines • Cooler (4o C, 25% RH) or freezer (-18o C)? • Okay for 20 years at -18o C? • Variable schedule? • Rudbeckia first test 10 years, retest in 5 years • Impatiens first test in 2 years, retest yearly