Orchid Conservation

North American Orchid Conservation Center (NAOCC)

In nature, orchids depend on mycorrhizal fungi for seed germination and to provide a source of energy.

Corallorhiza maculata
(courtesy RS Currah)

Approximately 250 species of native orchids occur in North America. Almost half of these species are under severe threat due to habitat destruction and many species are likely to become extinct unless action is taken soon to conserve them and their fungal partners.

In recognition of this problem, the North American Center for Conservation of Native Orchids (NAOCC) was established by the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (Edgewater, MD) and the United States Botanic Garden (Washington, D.C.). An inaugural meeting held June 25-26, 2012, brought together representatives from several botanic gardens and fungal culture banks. The NAOCC will work toward establishing seed and fungal banks that represent the broad genetic diversity of both partners, developing improved strategies for orchid propagation, promoting habitat conservation and restoration through partnerships with landowners and societies, and creating a web-based education program. Preliminary funding for the NAOCC came from a Grand Challenges grant from the Smithsonian Institution and the US Botanic Garden, but additional funding is needed to achieve NAOCC objectives. More on funding

Germinating orchid seed
(courtesy RS Currah)

Current collaborating organizations include the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, the Smithsonian Gardens, the National Museum of Natural History, the National Zoological Park, the National Museum of the American Indian, the United States Botanic Garden, Alaska Botanical Garden, Atlanta Botanical Garden, Chicago Botanic Garden, Desert Botanical Garden, the Microfungus Collection and Herbarium, Illinois College, The Center for Plant Conservation, New England Wild Flower Society, The Nature Conservancy, Bureau of Land Management, Mt. Cuba Center Inc., Duke Farms. Partnerships with other agencies and organizations that work with, or are responsible for, conservation and management of native orchid populations is envisaged.

Learn more about the NAOCC and orchid science. View video or brochure.

Conserving orchid fungi at the UAMH

Our role with the NAOCC is to conserve the genetic diversity of orchid mycorrhizal fungi. The UAMH bank of orchid mycorrhizal fungi (see list) is an invaluable resource established over many years of research work by R.S. Currah (University of Alberta), L.W. Zettler (Illinois College, Jacksonville, IL) and others. The research of L.W. Zettler focuses on conservation of threatened orchids and the symbiotic germination of orchid seed with host-specific and locally adapted mycorrhizal fungi. Results of Dr. Zettler’s work on symbiotic germinations have identified specific UAMH cultures as ones promoting seed germination in vitro (See Zettler et al 2011, Keel et al 2011). In 2011-12, 23 isolates were received for deposit and included Ceratorhiza and Epulorhiza species obtained mainly from roots of the U.S. Federally threatened eastern prairie fringed orchid Platanthera leucophaea.

For more on the role of the UAMH in conservation of orchid fungi see Sigler NAOCC presentation (pdf).

Cryopreservation or freezing in liquid nitrogen (LN) is the method of choice for long-term storage of nonsporulating fungi, but a number of variables can affect recovery including the fungal species, the cryoprotectant, the age of the culture and possible presence of staling compounds. Among the most difficult to preserve are some ecto- and orchid mycorrhizal fungi.  Based on a report by Stielow JB et al (Mycologia 2012; 104:324-330) who described improved recovery from freezing when isolates were grown on charcoal filter paper, we have conducted trials on several ectomycorrhizal and orchid mycorrhizal fungi that had previously failed to survive LN or gave very poor recovery in multiple preservation attempts. Results to date indicate higher rates of recovery for both groups of fungi and optimum results when the filter paper is well colonized. The method is more labor intensive and time consuming than our usual method using straws, but appears to be of value for preserving important orchid and ectomycorrhizal fungi.