Variables influencing germination and initial survival of two critically endangered plants: Warea amplexifolia and Lupinus aridorum

Abstract

One challenge of ex situ conservation is developing propagation methods that promote a high rate of survival and genetic diversity. Developing successful propagation methods is especially important for rare species to prevent their extinction. Clasping warea, Warea amplexifolia (Nutt.) Nutt. (Brassicaceae), and scrub lupine, Lupinus aridorum McFarlin ex Beckner (Fabaceae), are two rare species endemic to imperiled Florida sandhill and scrub habitats, respectively. We tested whether the collection site of seeds, seed stratification temperature, and several propagation methods influenced germination and initial survival of W. amplexifolia and L. aridorum. The collection site of seeds and type of pot influenced percent germination of W. amplexifolia, whereas soaking seeds in water and stratification temperature did not. The site where seeds were collected did not influence germination of L. aridorum and treating seedlings with salicylic acid, nitrogen, or salicylic acid and nitrogen sometimes reduced, but did not increase, initial survival of seedlings. Overall, our results will inform additional experiments on ex situ conservation and may be applicable to other herbs endemic to Florida.