ORCHID CONSERVATION NEWSThe Newsletter of the Orchid Specialist Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission

Issue 3 November 2012

Conservation Measures

Editorial

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Conservation of orchids can take many forms,from the initial Red List assessment ofconservation status to legal protection, from

seed banking, micropropagation and reintroduction tosupplemental hand pollination, and from translocationof plants under imminent threat to the restoration oforchid habitat. Conservation projects are happeningworldwide with different time scales and approaches. Whether it is the experimental reintroduction epiphyticspecies with monitoring, or the restoration of orchidmeadows, where it can take a decade or more beforeorchids begin appearing naturally in the rehabilitatedhabitat, we still are very much in a learning phase.Raising orchids from seeds in a laboratory may berelatively quick but the acclimatisation stage, whenseedlings are removed from controlled conditions to anatural habitat, cannot be rushed. Even when transplantsbegin to flower, that a breeding population willultimately be achieved and sustainable remainsunknown. In this issue, we learn about reintroductionwork in India by Dr. Simmi Aggarwal and colleaguesusing artificially propagated, CITES Appendix I, Vandacoerulea, and of the conservation projects whichMargaret From and her team at Omaha’s Henry DoorlyZoo.

Marilyn H.S. Light, Editor mslight@distributel.net

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Artificial propagation andreintroduction of Vanda coerulea Griff.

Ex Lindl., a floriculturally importantand endangered orchid from India

Simmi Aggarwal and C. Nirmala1

Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Lab, Department ofBotany, Panjab University, Chandigarh-160014, India

simmi.aggarwal@rediffmail.com1

Orchids have been attracting botanists, naturalists andecologists since a long time due to their incredible rangeof floral and morphological diversity and variedpollination biology (Schiestl et al., 1999; Gasket et al.,2008; Philips et al., 2009). With a worldwidedistribution of more than 25,000 species in 850 genera(Dressler, 1993), the family Orchidaceae is one of themost evolved family of flowering plants. India is oneamongst the most distinct and diverse biogeographicregions of the world with 1,331 species of orchids in186 genera (Misra, 2007). Nearly 300 speciesbelonging to 75 genera are endemic to this country(Rao, 1991). The Himalayan, the North Eastern and thePeninsular regions are major orchid rich habitats in thecountry. Nearly 250 species of Indian orchids arethreatened of survival including the present one (Vandacoerulea Griff. ex Lindl.), and some like Aphyllorchisgollani, Paphiopedilum charlesworthii, Pleionelagenaria and Vanda wightii have probably alreadyvanished (Singh 2001). Though a single orchid producesmillions of seeds, only few germinate in nature. Inaddition, their natural habitat is being destroyed byurbanization leading to the reduction in the size andfrequency of these plants. Currently, the horticulturetrade depends on wild orchid population as a source ofstock plants. The development of an artificial means ofpropagation is needed to reduce collection pressures on

wild population. Micropropagation is one of the mostefficient means for mass propagation. However, tissueculture raised plants often require extreme hardeningtreatments to prevent high mortality after transfer to exvitro conditions. Survival of asymbiotically raisedseedlings in orchids transferred directly to naturalhabitats are unsuccessful until and unless they developmycorrhizal associations. Therefore, infection of invitro raised seedlings/plantlets with appropriatemycorrhiza prior to their transfer ex vitro/natural habiats would play an important role for better establishment,survival, growth and ecorestoration of endangered/rareorchid species. However, only a few reports areavailable on hardening of asymbiotically grown orchidseedlings with mycorrhizal fungi (Chang, 2007; Fang etal., 2008). In India, where many species are threatenedwith extinction, the application of mycorrhiza for exvitro propagation are currently underway (Aggarwal andZettler, 2010).

Vanda coerulea commonly known as ‘blue vanda’ isa floriculturally and ethnobotanically important andendangered orchid, found at elevations of 1000-1500 mand is endemic to the state of Meghalaya and Manipurin India and northern range of Thailand and Burma. Ithas been listed as an endangered species of Red DataBook on Indian Orchidaceae-1 (Pradhan, 1985) andthreatened by International Union for Conservation ofNature and Natural Resource (Seeni and Latha ,2000)and its trade is banned. During our visit to North-Eastand an interaction with the native people, we found thatmany floriculturally important orchids are collectedfrom the wild and are sold to earn their livelihood.

Presently, our effort is to restore Vanda coerulea innatural but protected habitats after infecting the in vitroraised seedlings with the mycorrhiza isolated from itsroots. For this, seeds were propagated in vitro usingMitra orchid medium (HiMedia, Bombay; product codePT 106) and a large number of seedlings were obtainedwithin 9 weeks of culture (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1 (left) In vitro propagation using seeds for obtaining large numbers ofseedlings.

Fig. 2 (right) In vitro propagated mycotrophic plants (36 wk old) ready for transferto the Orchid Preservation Centre. A wet coir sponge base is used to keep them aliveduring the 4 days travel to the destination. Photos: Jagdish Kumar

The endophytic fungus was isolated from its roots andidentified using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regionof nuclear rDNA (Aggarwal et al., 2012). The seedlingswere co-cultured with this mycorrhiza using OMAmedium (Product code RM 2565). After two months ofculture, these were deflasked and gently washed with tapwater and tied on a wet coir sponge base (Fig. 2) fortransportation to its natural and protected habitats atState Orchidarium, Imphal, Manipur (Figs. 3, 7; NorthEast India). The plants were secured on the trees (Figs.4, 5; Training at Prof. Zettler’s lab during June 2008)and in coconut grooves (commonly used by locals inNorth- East; Fig. 6).

The plants were reintroduced during monsoon seasonso as to facilitate congenial environment for their growthand development. These adapted well with a survivalfrequency of 96%.

Fig. 3 (left) State Orchidarium, Imphal (North-East India).

Fig. 4 (right) After securing the plant on the host tree. Extreme left and right arecaretakers in the Orchidarium, Dr. potshangbam nongdam puren, Ph.D. (in whiteshirt) , Dennis (in Pink shirt; Senior research fellow at our lab) and Dr. Aggarwal .

Fig. 5 (left) Plant secured on the tree showing growth and development (Techniquelearnt from Prof. L.W. Zettler)

Fig. 6 (right) Some plants were transferred to coconut shells with grooves in it. It iscommonly used in North East to grow orchids.

Fig. 7 - Our team at State Orchidarium inJune, 2012 with Prof. C. Nirmala (extremeleft, our lab in charge)

Figs. 3-7, Photos by Raman Gupta

References

Aggarwal, S. and Zettler, L.W. 2010. Reintroduction of an endangered terrestrial orchid

Dactylorhiza hatagirea (D. Don) Soo, assisted by symbiotic seed germination: first

report from the Indian subcontinent. Nature and Science Journal 8(10): 139–145.

Aggarwal, S., Nirmala , C., Beri, S., Rastogi, S. and Adholeya, A. 2012. In vitro

symbiotic seed germination and molecular characterization of associated endophytic

fungi in a commercially important and endangered Indian orchid Vanda coerulea Griff.

Ex Lindl. European Journal of Environmental Sciences, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 33–42.

Arditti, J. 1992. Fundamentals of Orchid Biology. John Wiley and Sons, New York.

Chang, D.C.N. 2007. The screening of orchid mycorrhizal fungi (OMF) and their

applications. In: Chen WH, Chen HH (eds.) Orchid Biotechnology. World Scientific

Publishing Co. Ltd. Hong Kong, pp 77–98.

Dressler, R. 1993. Phylogeny and classification of orchid family. Cambridge

University Press, Cambridge.

Fang, D., Hong-xia, L., Hui, J., and Yi-bo, L. 2008. Symbiosis between fungi and

hybrid Cymbidium and its mycorrhizal microstructure. For Stud China. 10: 42–44.

Gasket, A.C., Winnick, C.G., and Heberstein, M.E. 2008. Orchid sexual deceit

provokes ejaculation. The American Naturalist 171: E206–E212.

Misra, S. 2007. Orchids of India. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh. Dehradun, India.

Philips, R.D., Faast, R., Bower, C.C., Brown, G.R. and Peakal, R. 2009. Implications

of pollination by food and sexual depiction for pollinator specificity, fruit set, population

genetics and conservation of Caladenia (Orchidaceae). Australian Journal of Botany

57: 287–306.

Pradhan, U.C. 1985. Red Data sheet on Indian Orchidaceae - I Vanda Coerulea Griff.

ex Lindl. Indian Orchid J. 54(1).

Seeni, S., and Latha, P.G. 2000. In vitro multiplication and ecorehabilitation of the

endangered Blue Vanda. Plant Cell Tissue Organ Cult ., 64 1–8.

Rao, A.N. 1991. Post independence additions to the orchid flora of India with a

particular reference to Arunachal Pradesh - a review. J. Orchid Soc. India. 5(1,2):

29–41.

Schiestl, F.P., Ayasse, M. Paulus, H.F., Lofstedt, C., Hansson, B.S., Ibarra, F. and

Francke, W. 1999. Orchid pollination by sexual swindle. Nature. 399: 421–422.

Singh, D.K. 2001. Orchid diversity in India; an overview. In: Pathak, P., Seghal, R.N.,

Shekhar, N., Sharma, M., Sood, A. (eds) Orchids: Science and Commerce. Bishen

Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun, India pp 35–65.

Vij, S.P. 1994. Dermal peels and orchid regeneration. In : Proc. The Nagoya

International Orchid Show (eds. S. Ichihashi and H. Nagata). pp 72–80. The

Organizing Committee NIOC’94, Nagoya, Japan.

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Selby Gardens Adds Renowned Plant

Researcher, Grows Its Botanical

Research Team

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 28, 2012 –

Sarasota, FL –Dr. Antonio Toscano de Brito has been

named Curator of the Orchid Research Center at Marie

Selby Botanical Gardens. His duties will include

researching selected orchid species, publishing scientific

and popular articles, identifying plants, building Selby’s

living and preserved collections and giving lectures on

plant research.

Toscano began work at Selby Gardens on the Global

Plants Initiative project, funded by the Mellon

Foundation in April 2011. He is currently working

under two grants studying orchids of Brazil. His

research involves molecular work which is funded by

the Institute for Museum and Library Services, and

fieldwork partially supported by an individual grant

from the National Geographic Society. When these

grants are finalized, Toscano will continue making

contributions to advancing scientific research on behalf

of Selby Gardens.

A native of Brazil, Toscano graduated from the

Universidade Federal Rural in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,

before receiving his Ph.D. on orchid systematics from

the University of Reading/Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew,

in England. More recently he worked as a visiting

scholar at Harvard University. Toscano has made

numerous scientific expeditions throughout Brazil to

complete plant collections and travelled extensively in

Europe visiting herbaria and libraries. He has

contributed or authored more than 50 scientific

publications, including two books on Brazilian orchids,

and is a recipient of three international awards for

excellence in plant research.

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Orchid conservation news from

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo

Margaret From, Director of Plant Conservation &

Research, tells us about their collaborative project with

a North Dakota University and the University of

Nebraska on Platanthera praeclara. They have been

involved with research and propagation of P. praeclara

since 1992 and were asked to advise on research in

North Dakota. Three separate university departments are

involved. The University of Nebraska interest lies with

the restoration of a historic tall-grass prairie. Both of

these projects have long-term commitments and involve

a number of graduate students and professors. This will

hopefully lead to more information about the life cycle

of the species’ often sporadic annual distribution, as

well as its pollinator(s), ecological requirements and

natural habitats.

Other conservation initiatives include:

1) A field survey of orchids in a region of Panama that

is very near a major mining site where they anticipate

collaboration on ex situ and in situ orchid conservation

with professors there and in California.

2) Developing a multi-institution collaboration in South

Africa for conservation of plant species that under

threat. This is a project involving a fairly broad cross

section of species but will undoubtedly include orchid

species.

3) Working in a multi-institution collaboration with the

Winnebago Native American Tribe in northern

Nebraska to restore native species on tribal land. This is

planned as an educational tool for students of all ages.

The Center for Conservation & Research serves as the

species advisory component for the project.

Margaret M. From, Director of Plant Conservation, The Center

for Conservation & Research, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo,

Omaha, Nebraska 68107-2200 USA

<psl@omahazoo.com>

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Mark you calendars

IOCC5 - Isle de la Réunion - December 2–6, 2013

The 5 International Orchid Conservation Congress is planned forth

December 2013 at Saint-Denis, Ile de La Réunion. The theme is

“Orchid Conservation – Making the links”. The website provides

details including congress hotel, visitor information, and associated

field trips. This is an opportunity not to be missed!

http://iocc5.univ-reunion.fr/

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New Phytologist Symposium

Calabria, Italy, May 14–16, 2013

http://www.newphytologist.org/orchid/flyer.pdf

International Orchid Workshop

May 17–20, 2013

University of Calabria, Italy

http://www.iow2013.it/

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IUCN World Conservation Congress

http://www.iucnworldconservationcongress.org

Global reintroduction perspectives: 2011 may be downloaded from

http://www.iucnsscrsg.org/newsletters.php

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Call for conservation news

Members are asked to provide news of their recent

conservation activities for publication in the OSG

Conservation News.

Changes to contact information?

To maintain effective communication, we need to know of

any changes in contact information. Please inform the OSG

Chair, Dr. Mike Fay <M.Fay@kew.org>.