Global and regional IUCN Red List Assessments: 1

In this contribution, the conservation status assessment of six plant species according to IUCN categories and criteria are presented. It includes the assessment at global level of Linaria tonzigii Lona, Allium garganicum Brullo, Pavone, Salmeri & Terrasi, Ferula arrigonii Bocchieri, Orchis patens Desf. subsp. patens and Armeria saviana Selvi and the assessment at regional level (Italy) of Viola jordanii Hanry

Global and Regional IUCN Red List Assessments : 1

In this contribution, the conservation status assessment of six plant species according to IUCN categories and criteria are presented. It includes the assessment at global level of Linaria tonzigii Lona, Allium garganicum Brullo, Pavone, Salmeri & Terrasi, Ferula arrigonii Bocchieri, Orchis patens Desf. subsp. patens and Armeria saviana Selvi and the assessment at regional level (Italy) of Viola jordanii Hanry

Less is more: Low-cost in vitro propagation of an endangered Italian orchid

Orchids are among the most widely distributed plants but also the most threatened by biotic and abiotic factors. Their interactions with specific symbiotic fungi during germination in natural environments make their propagation challenging for conservation biologists. In this study, in the framework of the European conservation project LIFEorchids, the germination protocol for the endangered Mediterranean species Orchis patens was optimised, and the effect of controlled constant temperature in growth chambers with fluctuations of temperature occurring in natural environments was compared. Seed viability was also evaluated by using a double-staining technique. Minimum, maximum and average daily temperatures were recorded for six months, from July to December, and germination percentages, as well as developmental stages of seeds, were annotated, for both conditions, every month. Even if germination was obtained under both conditions, the effect of temperature fluctuations was evident, by increasing the germination percentage of seeds from about 10% under controlled conditions to 59%. The latter result was almost comparable with seed viability data, indicating a strong impact of temperature fluctuations in breaking seed dormancy. Our results are a confirmation that temperature oscillations play a more important role than the average temperature in seed germination and suggest avoiding a constant temperature to optimise germination protocols for European orchid species

Interactions among mycorrhizal fungi enhance the early development of a Mediterranean orchid.

Orchids depend on mycorrhizal fungi to germinate from seed. While multiple orchid mycorrhizal (OrM) taxa are often found associated with adult orchids, the relative contribution of particular OrM taxa to germination and early orchid development is poorly understood. We isolated 28 OrM fungi associated with the Mediterranean orchid and tested the efficiency of five isolates on germination and early development, four belonging to the species complex and one belonging to . Co-cultures of varying two-way and three-way combinations of OrM isolates were used in vitro to compare the simultaneous effect on seed germination rate with monocultures. We then tested whether, when given initial priority over other fungi, particular OrM taxa were more effective during the early stages of development. Seedlings germinated with different isolates were transferred to a growth chamber, and either the same or different isolate was added 45 days later. After 3 months, the number of roots, length of the longest root, and tuber area were measured. All OrM fungi resulted in seed germination; however, lower germination rates were associated with the isolate compared to the tulasnelloid isolates. There was significant decreased germination in co-culture experiments when the isolate was added. Despite being associated with reduced germination rates, the addition of the isolate to the seedlings germinated with tulasnelloid strains resulted in significant increased tuber size. Although associates with many OrM taxa, these results show that OrM fungi may play different roles during orchid germination and early development. Even when given initial priority, other fungi may colonize developing orchids and interact to influence early orchid development

Asymbiotic seed germination of hand-pollinated terrestrial orchids

Orchids are known for their adaptation to different environmental and biotic factors, especially pollinators and mycorrhizal fungi. Association with symbiotic fungi has a crucial impact on orchid growth and metabolism, from germination through the seedling stage and in many cases throughout their life. Negative abiotic and biotic impacts on ecosystems are one of the reasons of the decreasing number of orchids in their habitats. In vitro germination is often the best way to propagate beautiful hybrids and endangered species, but asymbiotic seed germination is possible if medium offers nutrients that in the natural habitat would be guaranteed by fungi. In this work, a protocol for ex situ conservation of nine threatened terrestrial orchid entities has been developed. After 20-45 days (depending on species) from hand pollination, seeds were collected, sterilized and then sowed on Petri dishes in Malmgren modified medium and cultivated at 21\ub12\ub0C in the dark. The percentage of contamination and the percentage of germination were evaluated for every species. The absence of ammonium phosphate monobasic resulted in a good percentage of germination of species typical of dry-grassland and growing on poor soils (i.e., Gymnadenia conopsea and Neotinea maculata). On the other hand, Serapias neglecta, Barlia robertiana and other species typical of cultivated fields and roadsides, rich of ammonium, showed a more stunted and longer time of germination. Our results showed the effectiveness of this protocol on dry-grassland species

A taxonomic overview of Orchis sect. Robustocalcare (Orchidaceae).

Orchis patens has previously been considered to consist of three widely disjunct populations in northern Italy, Algeria/Tunisia and the Canary Islands. The last is already commonly treated as O. canariensis, but because the type of O. patens is from the Algerian populations, the name of the Italian taxon has been in doubt. We here review the taxonomic literature and provide a key to the species of O. section Robustocalcare supported by molecular data recently published for these three taxa. We conclude that Orchis patens subsp. brevicornis is the correct name for the Italian taxon

Traditional, Therapeutic Uses and Phytochemistry of Terrestrial European Orchids and Implications for Conservation

The Orchidaceae family accounts for about 28,000 species, and most of them are mentioned in the folk medicine of nations around the world. The use of terrestrial orchids in European and Mediterranean regions has been reported since ancient times, but little information is available on their medicinal properties, as well as on their phytochemicals and biological activities. However, plant collection for human use is still listed as one of the main threats for terrestrial orchids, alongside other menacing factors such as wrong habitat management and disturbance to symbionts, such as pollinators and mycorrhizal fungi. Therefore, the primary aim of this review was to resume and discuss available information regarding the past and current popular uses of European orchids. We then grouped phytochemical data to evaluate the presence of bioactive compounds of pharmacological relevance, and we discussed whether these could support the therapeutic employment of the different organs. Finally, we briefly debated the sustainability of orchid utilizations, considering the different threatening factors and conservation actions including plant propagation methods