Attempts to Propagate Stylisma pickeringii, an Endangered Plant in Illinois, Using Stem Cuttings
Laura A. Skoglund and Janice M. Coons
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801
ABSTRACT
Stylisma pickeringii Stems with Flowers and Fruits
Stem Tip Cuttings—Different Media
Stem Tip Cuttings / Sunshine Mix
100
80
percent green
Stylisma pickeringii (Convolvulaceae) is an endangered sand prairie plant in Illinois. Stylisma pickeringii can be propagated by seed, but in
greenhouse studies, no flowering has occurred. Similar Convolvulaceae species flowered within six months when propagated via stem cuttings.
Hence, an attempt to propagate Stylisma pickeringii via stem cuttings was made to hasten the onset of flowering. Specific objectives were to
investigate how rooting media, auxin concentrations, and tissue sources affect development of Stylisma pickeringii stem cuttings into plants.
Stylisma pickeringii stems were collected on August 21, 2001 near Snicarte, IL. On August 24, 2001, cuttings were taken using three types of
rooting media (Universal Mix, Sunshine Mix, and fine vermiculite), six Hormex concentrations (1, 3, 8, 16, 30 and 45; i.e. 0.1-4.5% indolebutyric
acid), and two tissue sources (stems with 2 nodes or stem tips). Nine cuttings for each treatment were placed in a mist bed in a greenhouse. Plants
were evaluated weekly for new stem growth, and for percentage of tissue that was healthy or chlorotic or necrotic. After six weeks, all cuttings
were necrotic, and appeared dead, but information was gained about rooting media, auxin concentrations, and tissue sources. For stem cuttings,
plants were healthier longer in Universal Mix with Hormex 3 relative to other rooting media and Hormex concentrations. Stem tip cuttings became
necrotic first in Hormex 45, and no obvious difference was seen when comparing the rooting media. In addition, new stem growth from stem
cuttings was observed for 3% of plants during the fifth week, which was after the original stem was necrotic. However, these new stems eventually
died. Although no plants were propagated successfully using cuttings, differences were found between rooting media and Hormex concentrations.
In future studies, stems will be collected earlier in the year when still actively growing.
Hormex 1
60
Hormex 16
40
Hormex 45
20
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
weeks
Stem Tip Cuttings / Fine Vermiculite
100
percent green
80
INTRODUCTION
Hormex 1
60
Hormex 16
40
Hormex 45
20
Stylisma pickeringii (Patterson bindweed) is an endangered sand prairie plant found in areas along
the Illinois River and Mississippi River (Herkert, 1991). Currently, only three populations are found in
Illinois, with only one being on public land. It is a perennial plant with indeterminate growth in the
Convolvulaceae Family. To expand its establishment in its natural habitat, more information about its
reproductive and developmental biology are needed.
Stylisma pickeringii flowers in the field between late June and early September. In greenhouse
conditions, Stylisma pickeringii has yet to flower. However, studies with Jacquemontia curtissii, another
species of Convovulaceae, demonstrated that plants in greenhouses flowered sooner when started from
cuttings than from seed (Koptur, 2001). It is possible that Stylisma pickeringii also will flower sooner in
the greenhouse if propagated by stem cuttings from flowering plants rather than by seed.
For propagation of plants via stem cuttings, pre-existing meristems such as terminal or lateral buds
are contained in the cutting. Often for propagation, stems containing these buds are cut from the mother
plant, dusted or dipped with an auxin compound, potted in a soilless media, and placed in a mist or high
moisture environment until new roots develop. The auxins stimulate development of new adventitious
roots, while the mist protects the plants from desiccation. Concentrations of auxin generally are lower for
herbaceous or easy to root plant materials, and higher for woody or hard to root plant materials. Various
concentrations of auxin are available in different commercial products such as Hormex. The soilless
media needs to provide support, aeration and moisture. Hence, some variables that may affect the
successful development of new plants from cuttings include plant tissue, auxin concentration, and media
type (Hartmann et al., 1997).
The purpose of this study was to investigate how factors such as tissue, media, and auxin
concentration affect the success of Stylisma pickeringii cuttings to develop plants. For this study, two
plant tissues (stem with lateral nodes or stem tips), three types of media (Universal Mix, Sunshine Mix and
fine vermiculite), and six Hormex concentrations (1, 3, 8, 16, 30 or 45) were used. Establishment of plants
with these conditions was evaluated.
0
1
Stem Cuttings—Different Hormex Concentrations
Ste m Cuttings / Horme x 1
4
5
6
Stem Tip Cuttings—Different Hormex Concentrations
100
Sunshine Mix
60
Fine Vermiculite
40
Universal Mix
20
Stem Tip Cuttings / Hormex 1
80
Suns hine Mix
60
Fine Vermiculite
40
Univers al Mix
100
80
20
0
percent green
80
percent green
percent green
3
weeks
Stem Cuttings / Hormex 3
100
2
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
1
2
weeks
3
4
5
6
weeks
60
Fine Vermiculite
Sunshine Mix
40
20
0
1
Ste m Cuttings / Hormex 8
3
4
5
6
w eeks
Stem Cuttings / Hormex 16
100
100
Sunshine Mix
60
Fine Vermiculite
40
Universal Mix
20
Stem Tip Cuttings / Hormex 16
80
Sunshine Mix
60
100
Fine Vermiculite
40
80
Universal Mix
percent green
80
percent green
percent green
2
20
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
0
1
weeks
2
3
4
5
6
weeks
60
Fine Vermiculite
Sunshine Mix
40
20
0
1
PROCEDURE
100
100
Stem Cuttings/Univ ersal Mix
Fine Vermiculite
40
Universal Mix
20
Hormex 16
0
Hormex 30
1
2
3
4
Weeks
5
6
Hormex 45
0
0
3
4
5
1
6
Hormex 1
60
Hormex 3
40
Hormex 8
20
Hormex 16
0
Hormex 30
2
3
4
Weeks
5
6
80
Universal Mix
2
3
4
5
weeks
6
60
Fine Vermiculite
Sunshine MIx
40
20
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
weeks
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Special Undergraduate Research on the Environment (SURE) Program of The
Environmental Council at the University of Illinois, Urbana, IL
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences at the University
of Illinois, Urbana, IL
SUMMARY
Based on this study, it is recommended that Universal Mix and Hormex 3 be used for further
studies. Since little difference in success rate was found between stem cuttings and stem tip cuttings,
it is recommended to use stem cuttings since more plant material for cuttings can be obtained per
single stem. Also, for future studies, stems should be collected earlier in the season, because it is
probable that stems used in this study were collected too late in the season when active growth was
slow.
Ste m Cuttings/Fine Vermiculite
80
1
40
20
2
100
Sunshine Mix
Fine Vermiculite
weeks
Hormex 45
percent green
Hormex 8
percent green
percent green
40
6
Stem Tip Cuttings / Hormex 45
60
20
1
100
Hormex 3
percent green
percent green
Sunshine Mix
60
Stem Cuttings/Sunshine M ix
60
5
80
80
Stem Cuttings—Different Media
Hormex 1
4
Stem Cuttings / Hormex 45
percent green
Stylisma pickeringii (Torr. ex M.A. Curtis) Gray var. pattersoni (Fern. and Schub.) Myint. stems
were collected on August 21, 2001 near Snicarte, IL (Mason County). The plants were stored in moist bags
until August 24, 2001, when cuttings were planted. Two different plant tissues (stems with 2 lateral nodes
and stem tips about 5-7.5 cm long) were cut from stems. The base of cuttings were dipped into one of six
different concentrations of auxin (Hormex powder 1, 3, 8, 16, 30 or 45; i.e. 0.1-4.5% indolebutyric acid).
Cuttings then were placed into one of three different types of media (Universal Mix, Sunshine Mix or fine
vermiculite) in a standard 9-cell pack container. Cuttings were grown in a mist bed with temperatures at
23°C during the day and at 22°C during the night. The mist frequency was every 6 minutes for a period of
16 seconds. Light in the mist bed fluctuated with ambient sunlight that was transmitted into the greenhouse.
No supplemental light was added. For stem cuttings, all three types of media and six Hormex concentrations
were used. For tip cuttings, only two media (Sunshine Mix or fine vermiculite) and three Hormex
concentrations (1, 16 or 45) were used. For each combination of treatments, nine cuttings or replications
were used. Individual cuttings were evaluated weekly during six weeks for any new stem growth, and each
one was scored as 1) green (healthy) or 2) a mixture of green and brown or 3) brown (necrotic). Percentage
of cuttings that remained green were calculated and plotted for each treatment at each sampling time.
80
3
weeks
Stem Cuttings / Hormex 30
100
2
100
Horm ex 1
80
Horm ex 3
60
Horm ex 8
40
Horm ex 16
Horm ex 30
20
Horm ex 45
0
1
2
3
4
weeks
5
6
LITERATURE CITED
Hartmann, H.T., D.E. Kester, F.T. Davies, and R.L. Geneve. 1997. Plant Propagation: Principles and
Practices. Sixth Ed. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ. 770p.
Herkert, J.R. (ed.). 1991. Endangered and Threatened Species of Illinois: Status and Distribution,
Volume 1-Plants. Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board, Springfield, IL. 158p.
Koptur, S. 2001. The floral biology and breeding system of Jacquemontia curtissii, an endemic
morning glory of south Florida pine rocklands. Proc. of Annual Meetings of Botanical Society of
America at Albuquerque, NM in August 2001. p. 38-39.