Wildflower Seed Source Affects Performance of Six Wildflower Species

Abstract

Field plantings of six native wildflower species were established at five sites in 1997 from seeds derived from local native populations (local ecotype) and from seeds purchased from commercial sources outside of Florida (nonlocal ecotype). The species were Cassia fasciculata (partridge-pea), Coreopsis lanceolata (lance-leaf coreopsis), Gaillardia pulchella (blanketflower), Ipomopsis rubra (standing cypress), Rudbeckia hirta (black-eyed susan), and Salvia lyrata (lyre-leaf sage; cancer weed). They were evaluated once per month from June to Oct. 1997. Plantings were maintained as follows: no supplemental fertilization; irrigation as needed up until early April to ensure germination; no pesticides except to control fireants and weeds on the perimeter of the plantings; plots were handweeded as necessary. It was clearly evident from these evaluations that the local ecotypes generally were better adapted to north Florida conditions than were the nonlocal ecotypes. The most noteworthy differences were as follows: 1) the local ecotypes of Rudbeckia and Gaillardia had longer flowering periods than their nonlocal counterparts, 2) the local ecotype of Coreopsis flowered profusely while flowering of the nonlocal ecotype was sparse, and 3) the local ecotypes of Coreopsis and Salvia had less disease incidence than their nonlocal counterparts.

Determinants of successful groundcover restoration in forests of the Southeastern United States

“…Although the ecotype data used in our model were simply shared source habitat rather than a measure of true genetic relationship, the importance of inherited traits in populations of species that are adaptations to the ecological conditions of the source habitat is well-documented (Grime 2001;Houseal & Smith 2000;Ratcliffe 1961). Many plant species have widespread distributions covering different habitats or even ecoregions, and plants or seeds from dissimilar habitats may not perform as well as those from shared ecotypes or local populations (Gordon & Rice 1998;Kindell et al 1996;Norcini et al 1998).…”

Survival of Blackeyed Susan from Different Regional Seed Sources under Low and High Input Systems

“…Differences in responses to biotic and abiotic stresses as affected by seed source have been noted for other native wildflower species grown under Florida conditions. Greater incidence of disease and/or foliar decline occurred on lanceleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) and lyreleaf sage (Salvia lyrata) derived from non-Florida seed sources compared to Florida ecotypes (Norcini et al, 1998). In a later study (Norcini et al, 2001a), percent survival of a Florida ecotype of lyreleaf sage was higher than the non-Florida selection.…”

“…This selection process and the identification of known ecotypes of the species (Beckwith, 1991;Celik, 1996;Norcini et a1., 1998) may have affected how well specific lines perform under differing environmental conditions. Norcini et al (1998Norcini et al ( , 2001b reported that a northern Florida ecotype and a central Florida selection from a native population survived longer under Florida conditions [American Horticultural Society (AHS) Heat Zone 9; USDA Hardiness Zone 8b] than a commercially produced selection from Texas. None of the Texas plants survived through October (most did not survive through September), whereas 60% and 90% of northern Florida and central Florida plants were still alive in October, and 20% and 90% of northern Florida and central Florida plants, respectively, were alive in November when the experiment was terminated.…”

“…In a later study (Norcini et al, 2001a), percent survival of a Florida ecotype of lyreleaf sage was higher than the non-Florida selection. Likewise, plants of a non-Florida selection of blanketflower (Gaillardia pulchella) grown under low input conditions senesced by mid-August whereas most plants of a Florida ecotype survived through mid-October (Norcini et al, 1998).…”

Storage Effects on Dormancy and Germination of Native Tickseed Species

“…O ver the past 10 to 20 years, production of prevariety germplasm of native wildflower seeds has risen dramatically in response to the demand for site-or regionally specific ecotype seeds for roadside plantings as well as for ecological restoration and revegetation projects (Booth and Jones, 2001;Harper-Lore and Wilson, 1999;Houseal and Smith, 2000). Researchers and practitioners realize that survival, growth, and flowering of native wildflower species can be strongly affected by seed origin (Marois and Norcini, 2003;Norcini et al, 1998Norcini et al, , 2001. Demand for prevariety germplasms is being met by a niche industry that is primarily in the midwestern and western United States (Booth and Jones, 2001;Houseal and Smith, 2000).…”