Abstract Detail

Recent Topics Posters

Sitepu, Bina [1], Ballard, Harvey [2].

Morphological and phenological characteristics of phenotypes in the Allium tricoccum complex: Preliminary results.

Two previous taxonomic studies have been conducted on the Allium tricoccum complex (wild leeks, or ramps). In 1979, A. G. Jones included phenological observations from populations in Indianapolis area to support extensive herbarium studies of morphological traits and concluded two species should be recognized, A. burdickii (Hanes) A. G. Jones and A. tricoccum Solander. In a 2007 MS thesis, R. Bell performed crossing experiments on phenotypes she interpreted as A. burdickii and A. tricoccum from easternmost West Virginia and adjacent Pennsylvania and Maryland, and also conducted phenetic analyses of traits on herbarium specimens from across the range of the complex. She concluded that only one polymorphic taxon, A. tricoccum, could be distinguished. Neither study made extensive use of field observations and living plants over much of the range for the complex, however. We located and sampled 27 populations of ramps in seven states, finding more than one phenotype at a number of sites. We made field observations and took photographs, collected soil samples, and removed five plants of each phenotype at each site to a common garden at Ohio University for biweekly observations and photography of habit and structures. Our observations have confirmed two broadly defined phenotypes, white ramps (A. burdickii plus possible additional regionally restricted taxa) and red ramps (A. tricoccum). We have found considerably greater variation in traits in both phenotypes than previously documented, yet most traits remain strictly non-overlapping and a handful of others are only slightly so. White ramps differ in linear to narrowly lanceolate or oblong leaf blades gradually tapering into short petioles, unpigmented and often glaucous bulb, foliage, scape, bract and flowers, deeply set bulb, fewer buds per umbel, ascending outermost pedicels, and smaller flowers (fruits have not yet matured in “red” ramps). Red ramps differed in shallow or partially exposed bulbs, commonly red-pigmented bulbs, foliage, inflorescences, bracts and flowers, broadly lanceolate to elliptical leaf blades with abruptly differentiated longer petioles, initially strongly curved but ultimately taller scape, and more and larger flowers, the outermost on strongly reflexed pedicels. White ramps populations expressed earlier bud opening and fruit maturation, mostly two or more weeks ahead of red ramps. Subtle differences in white ramp populations from the Great Lakes, Interior Plateau, southern Appalachian Mountains and New England deserve further study. Measurements and statistical analyses, soil analyses, and genetic investigations using SRAP markers will proceed shortly.

1 - Ohio University, Department of Environmental and Plant Biology, 22 Richland Avenue, 315 Porter Hall, Athens, Ohio, 45701, United States
2 - Ohio University, ENVIR & PLANT BIOLOGY-PORTER H, 315 Porter Hall, Athens, OH, 45701-2979, USA

Keywords:
Allium tricoccum
Wild Ramp
Morphology
phenology.

Presentation Type: Recent Topics Poster
Session: P, Recent Topics Posters
Location: Exhibit Hall/Omni Hotel
Date: Monday, June 26th, 2017
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PRT013
Abstract ID:759
Candidate for Awards:None