Susan Stieve Seed Crop Curator Ornamental Plant Germplasm Center The Ohio State University Regeneration of Cross-pollinated Herbaceous Ornamentals

Main Issues Ornamental Plant Germplasm Center (OPGC) Ornamental Plant Germplasm Center (OPGC) Germination Germination Isolation and pollination in greenhouse and field Isolation and pollination in greenhouse and field X-ray-assisted seed cleaning X-ray-assisted seed cleaning Monitoring stored seed Monitoring stored seed

The OPGC Currently over 260 genera Currently over 260 genera 2 Curatorial Teams: Seed and Clonal 2 Curatorial Teams: Seed and Clonal Seed-propagated species include Seed-propagated species include Annuals, biennials, perennials Annuals, biennials, perennials Seed dormancy Seed dormancy Cold tolerance Cold tolerance Day length requirements Day length requirements Vernalization Vernalization Cultural requirements (pH, watering, media, fertilizer) Cultural requirements (pH, watering, media, fertilizer) Technical Working Groups for 30 major genera Technical Working Groups for 30 major genera 6 full-time staff, many Ohio State undergraduate students (currently 11) and volunteers (6) 6 full-time staff, many Ohio State undergraduate students (currently 11) and volunteers (6) Currently writing operations manual Currently writing operations manual

Germination Typical sowing Typical sowing 2 layers of 4” square blue blotter paper 2 layers of 4” square blue blotter paper Anchor Paper Company Anchor Paper Company Germination boxes 4- 5/16 ” square, 1- 3/8 ” high Germination boxes 4- 5/16 ” square, 1- 3/8 ” high Pioneer Plastics Prod. No. 156-C Pioneer Plastics Prod. No. 156-C , , Sow seed in the “lid” Sow seed in the “lid” Percival germinators Percival germinators Model GR-36L, $13,000 Model GR-36L, $13,

Germination Germination protocol may not be in AOSA, ISTA Germination protocol may not be in AOSA, ISTA Dormancy breaking Dormancy breaking If no germination within 3 weeks of sowing germination boxes are placed at 40  F for 8 weeks If no germination within 3 weeks of sowing germination boxes are placed at 40  F for 8 weeks “Move-along” experiments by Baskin and Baskin mimic natural environmental changes “Move-along” experiments by Baskin and Baskin mimic natural environmental changes Have not tried KNO 3 or GA Have not tried KNO 3 or GA Will try sand and/or fungicides (Thiram) for rot control Will try sand and/or fungicides (Thiram) for rot control

Germination Box Percival Greenhouse sowing, plugs Transplanting

Hand pollination tedious, expensive Hand pollination tedious, expensive Necessary for some accessions (Petunia) Necessary for some accessions (Petunia) Field isolation cages (60%) Field isolation cages (60%) Greenhouse compartments effective for year-round seed production (40%) Greenhouse compartments effective for year-round seed production (40%) 14,000 ft 2 14,000 ft ’ x 30’ compartments ’ x 30’ compartments Insects including honey bees, blue bottle flies, and bumblebees have been successfully used Insects including honey bees, blue bottle flies, and bumblebees have been successfully used Seed Production

Field Cages-Screens 7’ x 7’ x 21’ cages 7’ x 7’ x 21’ cages Screen 14 x 18 mesh, amber color Screen 14 x 18 mesh, amber color SI Industries, GA SI Industries, GA $520 per cage incl. screen, frame (2004) $520 per cage incl. screen, frame (2004) Redwood Empire Awning, CA Redwood Empire Awning, CA $463 per cage incl. screen, frame (2004) $463 per cage incl. screen, frame (2004) Velcro or zipper door Velcro or zipper door

Field Cages-Frame SI screen frame SI screen frame ½” galvanized schedule 40 pipe ½” galvanized schedule 40 pipe Pipes per cage Pipes per cage 21’ - 4 pieces 21’ - 4 pieces 7’ – 9 pieces 7’ – 9 pieces Kee Klamps per cage Kee Klamps per cage 10-4, qty , qty , qty , qty , qty , qty , qty , qty. 2 Components purchased locally to save on shipping costs Components purchased locally to save on shipping costs

Field Cages-Frame Redwood screen frame Redwood screen frame 1” Schedule 40 galvanized pipe (1- 3/8 ” OD) 1” Schedule 40 galvanized pipe (1- 3/8 ” OD) Pipes per cage, purchased locally Pipes per cage, purchased locally 21’ – 2 pieces 21’ – 2 pieces 7’ – 4 pieces 7’ – 4 pieces Fittings purchased from Redwood Fittings purchased from Redwood 3-way – 4 per cage 3-way – 4 per cage 4-way – 2 per cage 4-way – 2 per cage

Field mulch, irrigation Transplanting Bury screen Add pollinator at flowering

Capillary Mat HID lights, mist Vernalization, 40 o F Argus environmental control

Pollinators Honey Bees Honey Bees $40/hive/season, OSU Honey Bee Lab $40/hive/season, OSU Honey Bee Lab Short-lived in confinement Short-lived in confinement Difficult to move Difficult to move Blue Bottle Flies Blue Bottle Flies $5/1700 pupae from Forked Tree Ranch $5/1700 pupae from Forked Tree Ranch Accidental pollinator Accidental pollinator Good for flat flower morphologies Good for flat flower morphologies

Honey Bees Blue Bottle Fly Dead honey bees in greenhouse Blue Bottle Fly on Rudbeckia

Pollinators Bumblebees Bumblebees $100 Research “B” class hive, 100 bees $100 Research “B” class hive, 100 bees Koppert , Koppert , Biobest via Plant Products Co , Biobest via Plant Products Co , Biobest has a good “Side Effects Manual” of pesticide compatibility Biobest has a good “Side Effects Manual” of pesticide compatibility Hive good for 6-8 weeks in field or greenhouse Hive good for 6-8 weeks in field or greenhouse Easy to move, no maintenance Easy to move, no maintenance Work well for all plant species Work well for all plant species

Bumblebees Protect cardboard hive from water Antirrhinum

X-ray-Assisted Seed Cleaning Faxitron Faxitron $64,000 $64,000 produces digital images in about 20 seconds produces digital images in about 20 seconds

Pre-blowing Post-blowing X-ray of Rudbeckia sp.

X-ray of Ambrosia sp. Pre-blowing Post-blowing

Seed Monitoring Currently over 5,000 accessions at OPGC, collection will continue to grow 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 Would need to do about 14 germination tests per week to test each lot once every 7 years Need to develop species guidelines Need to develop species guidelines Cooler (4 o C, 25% RH) or freezer (-18 o C)? Cooler (4 o C, 25% RH) or freezer (-18 o C)? Okay for 20 years at -18 o C? Okay for 20 years at -18 o C? Variable schedule? Variable schedule? Rudbeckia first test 10 years, retest in 5 years Rudbeckia first test 10 years, retest in 5 years Impatiens first test in 2 years, retest yearly Impatiens first test in 2 years, retest yearly