Anatomical Differences Between Terrestrial and Epiphytic Orchid Seeds 2019-2020

An orchid morphometric study led by Nelson Perez, Sofia Rizo, Kailee B. Woodall, Ana S. Pages, and Zachery Lorie

Orchids and Their Life Cycle

• World’s smallest seeds (0.05mm-6mm)
• Lack endosperm
• Wind dispersed
• Symbiotic relationship with fungi

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Photo by Kenneth Setzer

Photo by Jay Pfahl

What is Morphometrics?

The study/analyzation of living things, typically microorganisms to define their shape and structure

Objective:

Determine differences in embryo and seed measurements in epiphytic and terrestrial orchids

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Cymbidium aloifolium

Epiphytes vs. Terrestrials

Cymbidium aloifolium

Both depend on other plants for structure and fungi for nutrition

Basiphyllaea corallicola

Photo by Douglas Beard

Photo by Keith A. Bradley

Why Is It Important?

• Declining in population
• Conservation
• Future research

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Methods and Materials

Compound microscope

Cymbidium aloifolium

Camera

Glass slides

Encyclia tampensis

Capsule

Species Studied In Previous Years

• C. punctatum
• E. tampensis
• E. nocturnum
• P. cochleata

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• Trichocentrum undulatum
• P. cochleata
• B. corallicola
• B. purpurea
• P. cochleata

Epiphytic

Terrestrial

• C. flavum
• E. graminea
• S. lanceolata
• T. gentianoides

Species Studied 2019-2020

• Cymbidium aloifolium
• Epidendrum rigidum
• Vanilla barbellata

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• Sacoila lanceolata
• Basiphyllaea corallicola
• Eulophia alta
• Habenaria repens

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Epiphytic

Terrestrial

What We Found

Data

Data Analysis

Results

Figure 1

Photos from K. Krishna Swamy , H. N. Krishna Kumar, T. M. Ramakrishna paper on Studies on Seed Morphometry of Epiphytic Orchids from Western Ghats of Karnataka

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Biotech Morphometrics Team: Seeds Seeds Baby 2019-2020

Figure 2

Biotech Morphometrics Team: Seeds Seeds Baby 2019-2020

Biotech Morphometrics Team:

OrKids

2018-2019

Figure 3

Data Analysis: Embryo to Airspace Ratio

Photo by Bernadette Veldmann

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embryo/airspace= 1

embryo/airspace= less than 1

Figure 4

Results/Conclusions

• Terrestrial Seeds seem to vary in size and to tend to have a bigger airspace then epiphytic seeds.
• Epiphytic seeds seem to have a smaller airspaces compared to the terrestrial.

Further Study

• Actually grow the seeds and conduct an experiment to see if our data is accurate.
• Does the environment of terrestrial orchids alter the anatomy for wind dispersal?
• Limited sample size; especially with the epiphytic orchids.

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Citations-

• Benjamin, & Kim, O. (2019, May 12). What are the differences between brightfield, darkfield and phase contrast? Retrieved from http://www.microbehunter.com/what-are-the-differences-between-brightfield-darkfield-and-phase-contrast/
• *Morphometric of orchids in Western Ghats.pdf. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://drive.google.com/open?id=1OP-QMZdjPNRVN-qREjbDWsWtkNA45hR0&authuser=0
• Seed dispersal dynamics Brassavola nodosa. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4wOetICeDXTelhmNFZqMEtqYTg/view
• Baskin, C., & Baskin, J. (2014). Seeds 2nd Edition - Ecology, Biogeography, and, Evolution of Dormancy and Germination (2nd ed.).
• What Makes an Orchid Different from Other Flowers? (2010, March 11). Retrieved March 16, 2020, from https://www.nybg.org/blogs/plant-talk/2010/03/exhibit-news/what-makes-an-orchid-different-from-other-flowers/
• (n.d.). Retrieved from https://goorchids.northamericanorchidcenter.org/species/eulophia/alta/?pile=orchid-monocot
• Dehgan, B. (1983). Seed Morphology in Relation to Dispersal, Evolution, and Propagation of Cycas L. Botanical Gazette, 144(3), 412–418. doi: 10.1086/337391

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A Special Thanks To...

• Dr. Jason Downing, PHD FTBG Orchid Biologist
• Mrs. Woodmansee, M.S. Biotech Science Faculty
• Ms. Jamie Anderson, FTBG Magnet School Coordinator
• Yang Wen, Fairchild Challenge Data & Communication Specialist
• FTBG Faculty and Staff
• BioTech Faculty and Staff
• Morphometric Teams from previous years
• The seed banking team of this 2019-2020

Questions?