Understanding Rhododendron intraspecific compatibility in botanic garden collections for species conservation

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dc.citation.issue6
dc.citation.volume72
dc.contributor.authorHu L
dc.contributor.authorGardiner SE
dc.contributor.authorTate JA
dc.contributor.authorMacKay MB
dc.contributor.editorNolan R
dc.date.accessioned2024-10-29T20:43:42Z
dc.date.available2024-10-29T20:43:42Z
dc.date.issued2024-09-19
dc.description.abstractContext Controlled pollination is an important technique for maintaining intraspecific diversity in integrated plant conservation practices, particularly in genera such as Rhododendron, where open pollination usually produces hybrids with unknown paternal lineages. Aims This study investigated the capacity for viable seed set from self- and intraspecific cross-pollination for Rhododendron taxa in different categories of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, to guide conservation management of threatened species in botanic garden collections. Methods The following five taxa of subsection Maddenia were studied: R. dalhousiae var. dalhousiae (Least Concern), R. dalhousiae var. rhabdotum (Vulnerable), R. lindleyi (Least Concern), R. nuttallii (Near Threatened), and R. excellens (Vulnerable). Controlled pollination was performed on selected garden accessions, and seed germination was tested at an alternating temperature regime of 15/25°C, 8 h photoperiod, and ~6 μmol m−2 s−1 photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD). Key results Intraspecific compatibilities varied among different taxa and between self- and outcross treatments. X-ray images for Rhododendron seeds showed low capacity to predict seed germination. Neither X-ray scan nor fungicide (Ridomil) treatment showed any adverse impact on seed germination, which has positive implications for seed-banking and subsequent raising of Rhododendron seedlings. Conclusions Controlled intraspecific pollination can be used to maintain diversity of ex situ accessions for selected Rhododendron species. However, the zero or low compatibility demonstrated in some species, such as R. excellens, suggests that these species may require a different approach. Implications Intraspecific pollination should be evaluated for each Rhododendron species before a propagation program is initiated in ex situ conservation.
dc.description.confidentialfalse
dc.edition.editionSep 2024
dc.identifier.citationHu L, Gardiner SE, Tate JA, Mackay MB. (2024). Understanding Rhododendron intraspecific compatibility in botanic garden collections for species conservation. Australian Journal of Botany. 72. 6.
dc.identifier.doi10.1071/BT24005
dc.identifier.eissn1444-9862
dc.identifier.elements-typejournal-article
dc.identifier.issn0067-1924
dc.identifier.numberBT24005
dc.identifier.urihttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/71859
dc.languageEnglish
dc.publisherCSIRO Publishing
dc.publisher.urihttps://www.publish.csiro.au/BT/BT24005
dc.relation.isPartOfAustralian Journal of Botany
dc.rights(c) 2024 The Author/s
dc.rightsCC BY-NC-ND 4.0
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
dc.subjectbiodiversity conservation
dc.subjectbotanic garden
dc.subjectcontrolled pollination
dc.subjectex situ collection
dc.subjectgermplasm
dc.subjectintraspecific compatibility
dc.subjectRhododendron
dc.subjectseed germination
dc.subjectsubsection Maddenia
dc.titleUnderstanding Rhododendron intraspecific compatibility in botanic garden collections for species conservation
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.elements-id491749
pubs.organisational-groupCollege of Health
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