Dr. Jyotsna Sharma, who is an Associate Professor at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX, is leading conservation research projects at Watson Native Plant Preserve since 2012. The focus of her lab’s…

Dr. Jyotsna Sharma, who is an Associate Professor at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX, is leading conservation research projects at Watson Native Plant Preserve since 2012. The focus of her lab’s work is on one of the rare and superbly showy orchids of Texas. Platanthera chapmanii (Chapman’s orchid) is known from only a few locations in southeastern Texas, and Watson Native Plant Preserve hosts the largest population in Texas. Her work has included:

1)   augmenting the native population of the species

2)   locating new populations of the species in Big Thicket National Preserve

3)   developing effective propagation methods for P. chapmanii, and

4)   study of mycorrhizal ecology of the species. In nature, all orchid seeds depend on mycorrhizal fungi for germination, and as seedlings develop into mature plants, they maintain this relationship with their partner fungi.

Graduate (M.S.) student Kirsten E. Poff conducted manipulative experiments to test questions related to propagation and mycorrhizal symbiosis. Ms. Poff graduated in 2016 and is now a Ph.D. student at the University of Hawai

Other team members: Mr. Joe Liggio, Mr. Jim Willis, and Ms. Pauline Singleton assisted with research activities and facilitated permits and other logistics. Without their help, none of the activities would have been possible.

Two-year old laboratory-cultured plants of Platanthera chapmanii were planted at Watson Native Plant Preserve. Survival and emergence has been recorded at >90% two years after planting. Over the years, Dr. Sharma’s team has added hundreds of plants of the species to WNPP

Publications:

1. Richards M and J Sharma. 2014. A review of conservation efforts for Platanthera chapmanii in Texas and Georgia. Native Orchid Conference Journal 11: 1-11. ISSN 1554-1169.

2. Poff, KE. 2016. Platanthera chapmanii: culture, population augmentation, and mycorrhizal associations. M.S. thesis (Supervisor: J. Sharma). Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX. pp. 142.

3. Poff, KE, J Sharma, and M Richards. 2016. Cold-moist stratification improves germination in a temperate terrestrial orchid. Castanea 81: xx-xx. (In Press)

Views: 498

Comment

You need to be a member of Watson Preserve to add comments!

Join Watson Preserve

Donations

Watson Rare Native Plant Preserve is a 501c3 charitable corporation, and donations, while never a requirement for a visit, are always welcome and are tax-deductible.

If you would like to make a donation to support the preserve, please send a check to Watson Rare Native Plant Preserve, PO Box 533, Warren, TX 77664 or use the button below to use your credit card or Paypal.

If you wish to confirm our status with the IRS, our EIN is 80-0316780

EVENTS

Birding Hike

Saturday, March 9th from 9am to 10am Lisa and Kathleen Appelbaum will help you identify birds and answer any questions about eBird. Bring binoculars and a friend.

Wildflower Walk

Saturday, March 16th at 9:30 Joe Liggio and volunteers will tell us the history of the preserve and point out and name all the plants.

Volunteer Workday

Saturday, March 23rd 9am to Noon

We plan to work on trimming along the trails. Bring your energy and plant ID skills.We have loppers and hand pruners. We will provide water and snacks.

The March 27 workday has been cancelled.

For regular updates you can

Subscribe to our email newsletter

© 2024   Created by Linda Knowles.   Powered by

Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service