Plant Propagation for Environmental Offset Planting: A Case Study of Endangered Pomaderris clivicola and Near-threatened Bertya pedicellata

Case study: Successful clonal propagation and establishment of an offset subpopulation of the threatened plant Pomaderris clivicola E.M.Ross (Rhamnaceae)

“…A small population of 34 plants located on a road reserve on the Binjour Plateau was threatened by the need for road works to repair damage caused by landslips (Roberts and Trueman 2016). The main identified threats to the larger populations on private land are trampling by cattle, competition by introduced pasture grass (Megathyrsus maximus), increased fuel loads and changes to fire regimes (Thomas and Singh 1999;DEWHA 2008;DSEWPC 2012).…”

“…Whilst most translocations are undertaken using seed propagated plants, this is often not possible for many threatened species either due to low seed set, low genetic representation of the population or poor germination (Roberts and Trueman 2016). Direct translocation of adult plants is sometimes also undertaken but this is high risk due to potential establishment failure and is only possible for smaller-sized species (Dufourg and Shapcott 2019).…”

“…Direct translocation of adult plants is sometimes also undertaken but this is high risk due to potential establishment failure and is only possible for smaller-sized species (Dufourg and Shapcott 2019). Due to a combination of low seed set and poor germination success, in addition to the direct translocation of four adult plants, three P. clivicola plants were successfully clonally propagated for this project using field collected cuttings from the wild population to represent the genetic composition of the wild road reserve population (Roberts and Trueman 2016).…”

“…Multiple field collections of shoots were conducted over several years, 2013 to 2020. Planting at the offset site was also undertaken over successive years, in addition to the translocation of directly impacted adult plants, after plants had become established in a nursery (Roberts and Trueman 2016). The species proved challenging to propagate, using both tissue culture techniques and cuttings (Roberts and Trueman 2016).…”

“…Planting at the offset site was also undertaken over successive years, in addition to the translocation of directly impacted adult plants, after plants had become established in a nursery (Roberts and Trueman 2016). The species proved challenging to propagate, using both tissue culture techniques and cuttings (Roberts and Trueman 2016). Despite a low rooting frequency (4.3%), the required number of plants was successfully propagated from shoots collected from both the wild population and the established offset population.…”