In situandex situpropagation of the globally rareGeum peckii(Rosaceae)

Foliar Endophytic Fungi from the Endangered Eastern Mountain Avens (Geum peckii, Rosaceae) in Canada

“…Though separated by approximately 400 km, the New Hampshire and Nova Scotian populations show little genetic drift from each other based on an allele frequency change value of 0.0462 [11]. This suggests that this plant species may have spread from New Hampshire to Nova Scotia after the retreat of the last ice age over 12,000 years ago and before sea level rose, inundating the Georgian Bank and filling the Bay of Fundy [9,12]. Modern populations may therefore be the remnants of a once-larger North American range [13].…”

“…Modern populations may therefore be the remnants of a once-larger North American range [13]. G. peckii exhibits clonal growth by producing rosettes and the expansion of rhizomes [9,10,13,14]. Low germination success was observed in wild population of G. peckii and other Geum species [10,14].…”

“…Consequently, the Canadian forestry industry inoculates spruce seedlings with P. scopiformis to improve host health [8]. The Eastern Mountain Avens, Geum peckii, is a perennial herbaceous plant (Figure 1a,b) that is globally rare and is only found in the coastal sea level bogs of Brier Island and Digby Neck in Digby County (Nova Scotia, Canada) and is considered to be endemic to the alpine environments of the White Mountains in New Hampshire (United States; Figure 1c) [9,10]. Though separated by approximately 400 km, the New Hampshire and Nova Scotian populations show little genetic drift from each other based on an allele frequency change value of 0.0462 [11].…”

“…We examined plants from the declining Nova Scotian population from several locations (see sites in Figure 1 inset I-A and I-B). Factors contributing to habitat degradation at some sites include: the former use of bog land as pasture, bog drainage for a failed agricultural enterprise, presence of a large Herring gull (Larus argentatus) colony, as well as ATV trails that are now unused [9]. Prior to our study, the endophytes of G. peckii had not been examined.…”