TY - JOUR
T1 - Reproduction and development of the endangered Sedum integrifolium ssp. leedyi (Crassulaceae)
AU - Olfelt, Joel P.
AU - Furnier, Glenn R.
AU - Luby, James J.
PY - 1998
Y1 - 1998
N2 - Information on reproduction and life history is important for the conservation of endangered plants. We investigated rates of flowering, seed set, and germination in populations of the endangered perennial plant Sedum integrifolium ssp. leedyi. Germination and flowering rates differed significantly among populations, but seed set rate did not. We assayed 26 plant clusters (81 stems) from four of the five known populations for evidence of clonal reproduction using 28 randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Of the 81 stems, 75 had unique genotypes and three pairs had identical genotypes, suggesting that clonal reproduction is infrequent. Flowering, seed set, and germination rates were correlated with our estimates of ratios of effective to actual population sizes (N(e)/N), but not with N(e). The single formally protected population may be experiencing inbreeding depression. We grew plants from seed to maturity in a greenhouse, with a germination rate of 77% and survival of 98% of the germinants at 6 mo, suggesting that this will be a viable means of ex situ propagation. Plants flowered 4-6 mo after germination and produced mature fruits 1-2 mo later, suggesting that they have the potential to sexually reproduce in their first or second season of growth.
AB - Information on reproduction and life history is important for the conservation of endangered plants. We investigated rates of flowering, seed set, and germination in populations of the endangered perennial plant Sedum integrifolium ssp. leedyi. Germination and flowering rates differed significantly among populations, but seed set rate did not. We assayed 26 plant clusters (81 stems) from four of the five known populations for evidence of clonal reproduction using 28 randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Of the 81 stems, 75 had unique genotypes and three pairs had identical genotypes, suggesting that clonal reproduction is infrequent. Flowering, seed set, and germination rates were correlated with our estimates of ratios of effective to actual population sizes (N(e)/N), but not with N(e). The single formally protected population may be experiencing inbreeding depression. We grew plants from seed to maturity in a greenhouse, with a germination rate of 77% and survival of 98% of the germinants at 6 mo, suggesting that this will be a viable means of ex situ propagation. Plants flowered 4-6 mo after germination and produced mature fruits 1-2 mo later, suggesting that they have the potential to sexually reproduce in their first or second season of growth.
KW - Clonal reproduction
KW - Conservation biology
KW - Crassulaceace
KW - Development
KW - Effective population size
KW - Rare plant
KW - Reproductive biology
KW - Sedum integrifolium ssp. leedyi
KW - Seed germination
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0032229618&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0032229618&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2307/2446327
DO - 10.2307/2446327
M3 - Article
C2 - 21684918
AN - SCOPUS:0032229618
SN - 0002-9122
VL - 85
SP - 346
EP - 351
JO - American journal of botany
JF - American journal of botany
IS - 3
ER -