LE3 .A278 2018

2018

Walker, Allison
Lopez, Juan Carlos
Browne, Robin

Acadia University

Bachelor of Science

Honours

Biology

Biology

Geum peckii Pursh (Eastern Mountain Avens) (Rosaceae) is assessed as imperiled globally, critically imperiled nationally and endangered provincially. One of the only two populations of G. peckii occurs in Digby County, Nova Scotia. The population in Nova Scotia has been estimated to have declined by 64% since 1986. Investigations of the contribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and biochar on the growth of G. peckii could lead to more efficient tissue culture out planting techniques and recovery strategies. G. peckiiis a perennial plant species that is found in sphagnum peat bog habitats in Nova Scotia. Two greenhouse outplanting trials were completed using AMF sourced from Brier Island, Digby County, Nova Scotia, and different concentrations of charged biochar. DNA was extracted from G. peckii root material of ex situ grown plants in the experimental gardens in the K. C. Irving Environmental Centre (Acadia University), G. peckii root material collected from native plants on Brier Island, and root material from the G. peckii plants that were tested in the second greenhouse outplanting trial. No AMF DNA was found in any DNA extractions from the G. peckii plants as determined by PCR using AMF-specific primers. The greenhouse outplanting trials indicated that the higher concentrations of biochar in the second trial contributed to higher plant mortalities. However, 15% biochar without the addition of the AMF contributed to an increase in total biomass production. This study will contribute to increasing the efficacy of outplanting G. peckii in the future.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:2708