Orchid Conservation Research Articles

Comparison of Orchid Conservation Between China and Other Countries

Global attention is highly focused on biodiversity conservation. Various countries are actively implementing relevant conservation measures. To advance these efforts in China, it is essential to understand global conservation actions. The orchid family, one of the most diverse groups of flowering plants, has become a “flagship” group for plant conservation. In this study, we summarized 3418 policies and regulations related to orchid conservation in 45 countries. We found that orchid conservation actions in various countries have focused on in situ conservation, with 1469 policies and regulations issued for nature reserves, while ex situ conservation has been seriously neglected, with only seven relevant regulations. Most developing countries have experienced an increase in orchid conservation actions, while developed countries have plateaued. We amassed 370 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for orchid conservation. At present, the total number of policies and regulations for orchid protection in China is approximately 84, with 67 issued since 2000. Two non-governmental organizations have been established for orchid conservation. Although the benefit of orchid conservation in China is significant, it still requires continuous improvement compared to many other countries. We recommend that the Chinese government draws on the experiences of the United States, Canada, and Australia in areas such as policy and regulation formulation, optimization of non-governmental organizations, and implementation of related conservation projects. Through learning and collaboration, challenges can be transformed into opportunities for development.

Bibliometric Analysis of a Decade Orchidaceae Research: A Comprehensive Study in the Agriculture Field

Orchidaceae is a family of flowering plants esteemed in numerous countries globally, so they are a promising subject for further exploration. The evolution of Orchidaceae research over the past decade is a foundation for identifying areas warranting deeper investigation. bibliographic analysis based on the Scopus database was used to elucidate the advancements in research over a decade. We brought data on an increasing number of publications between 1943 to 2023. About 7139 documents were found about orchid research, and 59% were in agriculture filtered by subject area, from around 2013 until 2023. America and Asia have the most significant number of Orchidaceae species, approximately 12000. However, China stands out with many publications with a high citation rate. Regarding the organization that publishes the journal, from 16204 organizations, the University of Chinese Academy is a prominent contributor characterized by substantial collaboration in advancing orchid research. Furthermore, the co-occurrence and all keywords indicating genetics, biodiversity, and taxonomy have been used as basis research topics in the last ten years. With additional analyses and reviews, this bibliometric analysis demonstrates that the research on Orchidaceae, specifically in agriculture, thrives every decade. Hence, we recommend future orchid conservation and research that should focus on the current gaps in knowledge and practice, including species distributions, management of species, and threats of extinction for developing or creating new cultivars to intensify a high potential commercial value.

Design of an orchid conservation trail in Ixtaczoquitlán, Veracruz, Mexico

Objective: To raise awareness about the ecological importance of orchids and to promote the species commercialized by a company focused on their production through the design of a trail. Design/Methodology/Approach: A diagnosis of the plot was carried out to identify its characteristics and points of interest. A trail was designed to connect the most outstanding points. Native trees, which are the habitat of orchids, were subsequently planted to establish the outdoor collections. Results: The appeal of the place and the established phorophytes were taken into consideration to design the trail. Likewise, recommendations were made on what species of orchids should be planted in each station along the trail. Study Limitations/Implications: Evaluating visitor experience is pending. The trail lacks infrastructure for people with disabilities. The trail is located in an area subjected to anthropization and it will take several years before orchids can be established on the trees planted in July 2023. Findings/Conclusions: Trails are a useful tool to promote the conservation of native orchids; however, under anthropization conditions, it should be subjected to a systematized implementation to provide the climate and phorophyte conditions necessary for the survival of orchids.

Complexities and Innovations in Orchid Germination: A Review of Symbiotic and Asymbiotic Techniques

<i>Orchidaceae</i> is the second-largest family among flowering plants; one of the most fascinating characteristics is the morphology of the seed. One of the most important complications is that orchid seeds are tiny and lack endosperm, meaning they almost entirely depend on outside sources for nutrients while germinating or developing. The main objective of this review is to give a summary of the present methods being used in orchid germination, highlighting symbiotic and asymbiotic methods. Symbiotic germination requires interaction with mycorrhizal fungi, which provide the necessary nutrients and support for seedling growth. However, in asymbiotic approaches, controlled conditions are provided to promote germination by using nutrient-rich media. The article also highlights some of these advances that have taken place recently and ways that could be adopted to improve their effectiveness in the future. For example, the effectiveness and ability to grow orchids have improved due to recent developments in tissue culture and biotechnology. This study relies on applying the analytical approach to previous relevant studies on the subject. Nevertheless, further research is needed to refine these techniques and improve their usability in orchid conservation. To summarize, while significant progress has been achieved in understanding and enhancing orchid germination processes, further study and innovation are required. By resolving remaining issues and investigating new approaches, it may be possible to better assist orchid conservation and encourage the long-term cultivation of these wonderful plants.

REBUILDING OF ORCHID GERMPLASM CONSERVATION VIA MOLECULAR MULTI-OMICS APPROACHES

The Orchidaceae family, the world’s second-largest flowering plant, dominates the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list. Threats to orchid survival include illegal harvesting, habitat destruction, temperature change, and unique association requirements in pollination systems and orchid mycorrhiza interaction. Some research breakthroughs in ex-situ and in-situ germplasm integration techniques for conservation application, including automated precision approaches in orchid research. Exsitu conservation approaches, including gene bank, seed bank, cryopreservation, field gene bank, and in-vitro culture, can play indispensable roles in the success of orchid conservation and preservation, especially for endangered orchids. Recently, multi-omics technology emerged as an important tool to bridge the knowledge gaps in orchid conservation so more effective measurement could take place. These provide a good conservation framework that confluences with technology and knowledge.

Geographical pattern of the deviation between taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional diversity and its implications for the conservation of Chinese orchids

Orchidaceae stands as one of the “flagship” groups in global biodiversity conservation, attracting significant attention from researchers in China. Previous studies have focused on taxonomic diversity, neglecting the integration of phylogeny and functional aspects. Here, we have leveraged a large dataset of distributions, evolutionary relationships, and functional traits of orchids in China to analyze geographic patterns of species richness (SR), weighted endemism (WE), phylogenetic diversity (PD), phylogenetic endemism (PE), functional diversity (FD), and functional endemism (FE). Furthermore, we analyzed the deviations between PD (or FD) and SR (PDdev, and FDdev), as well as between PE (or FE) and WE (PEdev, and FEdev), taking into account climatic and environmental variables. We also delineated the priority protection and survey areas of orchid plants in China. Our results revealed that the geographic patterns of SR, WE, PD, PE, FD, and FE for orchids generally exhibited similar trends. However, there were notable inconsistencies in the geographical patterns of PDdev, FDdev, PEdev, and FEdev, which might be related to the different environmental responses of these four diversity deviation metrics. We have pinpointed six priority conservation areas for orchids in China, i.e., southeasterrn Xizang, western Yunnan, central Yunan, the Karst area at the border of Guizhou and Guangxi, the border of Guangdong and Guangxi, and Taiwan Island. In addition, we have also identified certain priority survey areas for orchids, encompassing southeastern Xizang and other crucial locales. These findings will guide future conservation and research efforts aimed at safeguarding the rich biodiversity of orchids in China.

Role of Herbaria in the Study of Orchid Flora of Arunachal Pradesh, Conservation and Development with Particular Reference to Orchid Herbarium Tipi

Arunachal Pradesh is known for its rich orchid Flora and to study them. An Orchid Herbarium has been established at Tipi in the year 1979. The herbarium has 2182 numbers of specimens representing 420 species of orchids deposited from time to time by the conserted efforts of the authors. This herbarium includes 15 holotype specimens and specimens of 57 endangered orchids. In this paper detailed list of the specimen deposited have been given. Its role in the study of orchid flora, conservation and development has been discussed.

Orchid trade at the source: Epiphytic species with conspicuous flowers in low‐elevation forests are more locally collected in a Philippine key biodiversity area

AbstractOrchids are the most heavily traded plant group globally, putting pressure on wild populations in many source countries like the Philippines. Despite its rich orchid diversity, there remains a notable gap in understanding the factors driving orchid trade within the country. To address this knowledge gap and support orchid conservation efforts, we utilized a 5‐year orchid diversity dataset extensively collected through floristic field and village garden surveys in one of the largest key biodiversity areas in the southern Philippines. We employed a trait‐based approach to investigate ecological drivers of local orchid collection within this source area. Our results show that around 36% of local orchid diversity have predicted collection risks of ≥50%. Notably, locally collected orchid species exhibited multiple, large, and conspicuously colored flowers that are found in low‐elevation forests and higher up in forest stratum. Elevational distribution and flower size emerged as the strongest predictors, potentially influencing collection preferences. Our analysis of predicted collection risks underscores the vulnerability of both threatened and non‐threatened orchid species to local collection pressures. Moreover, we highlight the practical utility of our trait‐based approach in predicting risks and informing management strategies for local orchid conservation. This research marks a significant step toward identifying ecological drivers influencing orchid trade at its source, providing insights that can inform targeted conservation strategies across many key biodiversity areas for this highly diverse, charismatic, and threatened plant family.

Three helmet-orchid species share abundant fungi of Serendipitaceae regardless of altitude

The tiny terrestrial orchids (plant height less than 8 cm) in the genus Corybas dependent on mycorrhizal fungal (OMF) partners for seed germination and seedling development. The OMF community of the Corybas remains poorly understood, although the relevant knowledge is very important for in situ and ex situ conservation of these orchids. In this study, we characterized OMF richness and compositions of three helmet-orchid species, i.e., Corybas geminigibbus, C. himalaicus, and C. shanlinshiensis, from their natural habitats by using Illumina sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer 2 region. We found that fungal colonization was restricted in the rhizomes of the helmet-orchids instead of their tuberoids, and serendipitoid fungi were predominant, while tulasnelloid were absent in the three investigated Corybas species regardless of their altitude. The three Corybas species shared 27 serendipitoid operational taxonomic units that are different to those of their related orchids, the genera of Cyrtostylis and Stigmatodactylus. Corybas shanlinshiensis alone had a range of ectomycorrhizal fungi (mainly russuloid and thelephoroid) broader than C. himalaicus and C. geminigibbus. Our study provides new information about terrestrial orchid–fungi associations and may further contribute to orchid conservation.

Effect of substrates of transplantation of the rare epiphytic orchid Dendrobium farmeri for conservation

Abstract. Nuammee A, Pingyot T, Foowan S, Pumikong S, Rujichaipimon W, Sornpood S, Panyadee P. 2024. Effect of substrates of transplantation of the rare epiphytic orchid Dendrobium farmeri for conservation. Biodiversitas 25: 708-715. Dendrobium farmeri Paxton is an epiphytic orchid, one of the most celebrated for its beauty. However, its natural population is dwindling, and it faces the risk of extinction. Although tissue culture techniques are successful for orchid propagations, the transplantation of in vitro-derived plantlets to ex-vitro conditions is often restricted by high mortality, which is considered a challenging and crucial stage in orchid conservation. This study investigated the effect of substrate mixtures on the survival and growth of D. farmeri plantlets under greenhouse conditions. The substrates for acclimatization contained coconut husk, charcoal chips, brick chips, sphagnum moss, fern fiber, and leaf mold in various ratios. Survival percentage and vegetative growth characteristics of plantlets were the main observations recorded. The result showed that the substrate mixture containing brick chips, charcoal chips, and sphagnum moss in a 1:1:2 ratio was the most effective, yielding 100% at 30 days and 96.7% at 180 days post-transplantation, fostering improved development of plantlets under greenhouse conditions. The findings suggest that this optimized substrate mixture could be a standard approach for acclimating D. farmeri and potentially other epiphytic orchids, enhancing conservation efforts and commercial cultivation.

The Jewel Orchids of Crocker Range Park, Sabah, Malaysia: A Review

Jewel orchids are usually recognised by their distinctive foliar and can be found in undisturbed habitats, such as Crocker Range Park, Sabah. The pristine habitat in the park provided a suitable condition for jewel orchids to thrive in their habitat. In Malaysia, jewel orchids are appreciated for their ornamental value due to their uniqueness. At the same time, in other countries, it was reported that jewel orchids are used as medicinal plants due to their medicinal properties. Although jewel orchids have been recorded in Sabah, specific studies and species checklists have yet to be made for the Crocker Range Park due to insufficient data. Moreover, the current conservation status of all recorded jewel orchid species in Sabah remains unknown. Therefore, this study comprises a review of information on jewel orchid species in the park, including other general or worldwide diversity, economic importance, conservation status, and action plans. This review used secondary data, including fieldwork collections, checklists, published journals, and available online data. From the review, eight genera and ten species of jewel orchids have been recorded in the park. Three endemic species were found from all recorded species: Anoectochilus monicae J. J. Wood, Goodyera condensata Ormerod & J. J. Wood, and Goodyera rostellata Ames & C. Schweinf. The outcome of this study can be utilised in the upcoming diversity study on jewel orchids in the park while providing the baseline for a management plan for the conservation of jewel orchids in the park.

KEANEKARAGAMAN JENIS ANGGREK DI JALUR PENDAKIAN WIRAYANA GUNUNG CAKRABUANA KABUPATEN MAJALENGKA

The existence of orchids in nature continues to decline due to habitat destruction and overexploitation. Conservation efforts that have been carried out so far have often experienced difficulties due to insufficient data and information as a basis for management, including conservation areas. The more widespread forest destruction will result in these species being threatened with extinction. This study aims to determine the diversity of orchid species, on the Wirayana Mount Cakrabuana Climbing Path. The information is expected to provide an initial contribution to the area management and orchid conservation efforts on the Wirayana Mount Cakrabuana Climbing Path. This research was conducted by means of a vegetation survey, sampling and documentation by exploring the existence of orchids. The sampling technique used the path transect method. The number of transects used is one line transect with a line length of 1500 m with a total of 22 sample plots. Data analysis was carried out by calculating the Important Value Index (INP), Species Dominance Index (Di) and Species Diversity Index (H'). The results showed that in the natural forest area of ​​Mount Cakrabuana there were 22 species of individuals which included 7 species of terrestrial orchids and 15 species of epiphytic orchids with a total of 243 individuals found. From the results of the calculation of species diversity, it is stated that the diversity of orchid species in the natural forest area of ​​Mount Cakrabuana is classified as moderate (2,973). This information is very important, especially for area managers in preserving the biodiversity of Mount Cakrabuana, especially orchids in the future.

Advances in Orchid Biology: Biotechnological Achievements, Translational Success, and Commercial Outcomes

Orchids constitute the largest and most diverse group of flowering plants and are classified in the family Orchidaceae. Exhibiting significance as the most exotic and ubiquitous flowering plant, the cultivation of orchids on a commercial level is gaining momentum worldwide. In addition to its ornamental and aesthetic value, the orchid industry has successfully generated employment for people in developing countries. Recent advances in biotechnological interventions in orchids have substantially contributed to the development of exotic varieties with novel traits, not to forget the inputs of traditional plant breeding methods and tissue culture approaches. In addition, the scientific developments in orchid biology have remarkably bridged the knowledge gaps in areas of orchid classification, phytochemistry, and cultivation strategies. This has facilitated the commercialization of novel varieties, opening new avenues in the orchid industry, and their global marketing as cut flowers and artificially propagated plants. Orchids constitute the first floriculture crops that revolutionized the orchid industry; however, they also hold several challenges in the natural propagation and conservation of several species that are on the verge of extinction. International organizations like CITES have come forward to address challenges associated with illegal global trade and indiscriminate use of orchid varieties, aiming for conservation and legal commercial goals. This thematic review is one-of-a-kind in providing comprehensive insights into the emerging momentum of orchid biology and how its globalization projects to considerably impact the orchid industry in the coming times. However, it is imperative to understand the challenges in the cultivation and conservation of orchid varieties and ensure legislative guidelines both on domestic and global levels to ensure a multipronged approach to the conservation and commercialization of orchids.

Diversity of Mycorrhizal Fungi in Temperate Orchid Species: Comparison of Culture-Dependent and Culture-Independent Methods.

Many orchid species are endangered due to anthropogenic pressures such as habitat destruction and overharvesting, meanwhile, all orchids rely on orchid mycorrhizal fungi (OMF) for seed germination and seedling growth. Therefore, a better understanding of this intimate association is crucial for orchid conservation. Isolation and identification of OMF remain challenging as many fungi are unculturable. In our study, we tested the efficiency of both culture-dependent and culture-independent methods to describe OMF diversity in multiple temperate orchids and assessed any phylogenetic patterns in cultivability. The culture-dependent method involved the cultivation and identification of single pelotons (intracellular hyphal coils), while the culture-independent method used next-generation sequencing (NGS) to identify root-associated fungal communities. We found that most orchid species were associated with multiple fungi, and the orchid host had a greater impact than locality on the variability in fungal communities. The culture-independent method revealed greater fungal diversity than the culture-dependent one, but despite the lower detection, the isolated fungal strains were the most abundant OMF in adult roots. Additionally, the abundance of NGS reads of cultured OTUs was correlated with the extent of mycorrhizal root colonization in orchid plants. Finally, this limited-scale study tentatively suggests that the cultivability character of OMF may be randomly distributed along the phylogenetic trees of the rhizoctonian families.

Identifying priorities under highly heterogeneous environments through species distribution models to facilitate orchid conservation

Identifying priorities under highly heterogeneous environments through species distribution models to facilitate orchid conservation

Design of an interpretive trail and conservation of native orchids (Orchidaceae) in an anthropized landscape

Objective: to design an interpretive trail of native orchids in the gardens of Campus Cordoba, Colegio de Postgraduados.Design/Methodology/Approach: this study is descriptive and field based. First, the feasibility of the trail wasvalidated through an online survey. Afterwards, several field trips were conducted; the script was created, andfinally the interpretive script of the trail was validated.Results: of the respondents, 95% considered the orchid interpretive trail as feasible. The inventory of thetrail area allowed to verify that the orchids are accessible at all stations along the route. The design of theinterpretive trail has nine thematic stations: 0. Introduction, 1. The Catasetum trail, 2. In vitro germination, 3.Acclimatization of orchids, 4. Miniature orchids, 5. Establishing orchids in phorophytes, 6. The Laelias trail,7. The “May Flowers” trail, and 8. The “Donkey ears” (Thricocentrum luridum). The interpretive trail allowsanyone to know and appreciate the diversity of wild orchids, 28 species and their phorophytes, along 700 m ofwalking trails for a 2.5-hours route.Limitations of the study/Implications: it is a guided interpretive trail.Findings/Conclusions: The interpretive trail allows us to appreciate the importance of the Orchidaceaefamily; which is one of the largest families in Mexico and the world through environmental and ornamentalimportance.

The Diversity and Growth-Promoting Potential of the Endophytic Fungi of Neuwiedia singapureana (Orchidaceae) in China

Neuwiedia singapureana is a rare and endangered plant of the Apostasioideae subfamily. The Apostasioideae subfamily has a unique evolutionary status, as it is considered to be the most primitive group forming the base of the Orchidaceae evolutionary tree. Therefore, N. singapureana has high scientific research and conservation value. The endophytic fungal communities associated with orchids are rich and diverse, but few studies have investigated the endophytic fungi of Neuwiedia orchid plants. In the present study, the aim was to examine the endophytic fungal community structures associated with wild N. singapureana rhizomes and normal roots in the ground and with bare prop roots in the air at two sampling sites in China. High-throughput sequencing of nuclear ribosomal DNA fragments of the internal transcribed spacer regions was conducted, and cultivable methods were adopted. A total of 2161 endophytic fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were obtained at a 97% sequence similarity threshold. The endophytic fungal diversity differed among the samples but not significantly. There were many more non-mycorrhizal endophytic fungal than orchid mycorrhizal (OM) fungal species detected in the N. singapureana orchid, about 98.33% OTUs of non-mycorrhizal fungi contrasting with 1.67% OTUs of potential orchid mycorrhizal fungi, among which Ceratobasidiaceae, Russulaceae, and Thelephoraceae were the dominant orchid mycorrhizal fungi. One culturable OM fungal Epulorhiza sp. isolated from the rhizome was capable of significantly promoting the seed germination and seedling growth of Dendrobium officinale and Epidendrum secundum orchids, respectively, with different efficiencies. These endophytic fungal strains with growth-promoting functions will provide materials for orchid conservation and for the study of the mechanisms underlying orchid symbiotic associations.

Conservation of Tropical Wild Orchids Through Empowering Local Community in Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta has many tropical wild orchids spread in the karst mountains. After the COVID-19 pandemic, ecotourism has started to develop again, especially in this area, which offers many beautiful tourist spots. The increasing number of tourists visiting the area will increase the demand for wild tropical orchids. The method used in this study was exploration, observation, and interviews with the local farmers were carried out to obtain the primary data. The secondary data was obtained from a qualitative approach through a literature study. Data analysis uses interpretation, and the data obtained in the field will be interpreted from the aspect of the orchid’s conservation process to the ecotourism development. Based on the results of studies and research that have been conducted, this local community-based ecotourism occurred when there is awareness of the local community to maintain and preserve a sustainable environment by utilizing the existing land to be more valuable. This community-based ecotourism also showed a positive impact on the conservation of tropical wild orchids and the protection of the environment.

Ancient tea gardens play important role on in situ conservation of epiphytic orchids in southwest Yunnan, China

Southwest Yunnan of China is the homeland of famous Pu’er tea and preserved the largest area of ancient tea gardens in the world. The ancient tea gardens keeping a large number of shade trees have prevailed for hundreds of years persist and formed typical agroforestry systems. To assess the potential of the ancient tea gardens for in situ orchid conservation, in this study, three typical ancient tea gardens located at different elevations, JiNuo Mountain ancient tea garden (JNM, 1150 m asl.), JingMai Mountain ancient tea garden (JMM, 1345 m asl.), and LaoBanZhang ancient tea garden (LBZ, 1787 m asl.), were selected to investigate species diversity and composition, and conservation status of all orchids. Floral visitors, reproductive success, and seedling recruitment of selected epiphytic orchids were also investigated from 2019 to 2021. We identified 88 orchid species (85 epiphytic and 3 terrestrial orchids) in 33 genera in the three ancient tea gardens, including one critically endangered species (CR), four endangered species (EN) and 16 vulnerable species (VU). Although the orchid species diversity was not significantly different, the species composition varied greatly among the three ancient tea gardens. For the randomly selected 40 epiphytic orchid species, all species could set fruits naturally, and the natural fruit-sets ranged from 1.11 ± 6.0% to 62.07 ± 15.4% with great variations among species and years. For 60 epiphytic orchid species observed, seedling recruitment for 26 species (43.3%) were observed and confirmed. Among 42 insect visitors observed, 21 species including bees, flies and ants, were confirmed as effective pollinators to 16 epiphytic orchids. These results revealed that the ancient tea gardens maintained high species diversity of epiphytic orchids and provided pollinator services for reproductive success and suitable micro-environment for seed germination and seedling recruitment. We strongly suggested that the ancient tea gardens in the area could serve as important supplements for in situ conservation of epiphytic orchids.

Prioritizing conservation of terrestrial orchids: A gap analysis for Italy

Protected areas (PAs) are a strategic tool for biodiversity conservation, and conservation planning approaches are used to optimize PAs capacity to preserve specific target groups. Orchidaceae is one of the most threatened plant families, as most species are vulnerable to habitat changes because of their strong ecological specialization. Italy plays a key role in biogeography as a result of its geographical position and hosts one of the most diverse orchid floras in the Mediterranean Basin. The aim of this work is to depict the degree of protection granted to orchids by the current network of PAs across the entire Italian country, testing whether distributional and ecological features affect species' conservation representativeness, and identifying a priority list of species to be further protected. We compiled a dataset comprising 71,693 occurrence records, the spatial conservation representativeness was calculated as the percent of occurrences falling within the borders of PAs. Generalized Linear Models were run to assess differences in the spatial conservation representativeness among species according to the preferred habitat, endemicity, chorology, and protection by the Habitats Directive. We produced a list of species to be used for prioritizing conservation planning. Our findings show that emphasis is needed on adopting orchid species linked to primary or well mature habitats to select additional PAs with high conservation significance. Our findings reiterate the urgency of targeted conservation actions that can protect orchids and prevent their decline.