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THE IN VITRO PROPAGATION
OF SEASIDE GOLDENROD
SOLIDAGO SEMPERVIRENS
M. Stephen Ailstock
Assistant Professor of Biology
Anne Arundel Community College
101 College Parkway
Arnold, Maryland 21012
ABSTRACT
Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) is a common pioneer
species on the primary dunes of the barrier islands of Virginia's
eastern shore north of the Chesapeake Bay. It serves as a windbreak
and an initiator of dunes which provide habitat for several animal
species, Large numbers of individuals, suitable for use in dune
stabilization projects, have been obtained by in vitro methods of
micropropagation., Explants obtained from terminal and subterminal nodes
of vegetative stems were cultured on various media combinations.
Adventitious shoots were initiated within three weeks on Murashige's
Minimal Organic Medium supplemented with 1-3 mg/1 kinetin. These shoots,
when separated and placed on similar media with and without auxins,
formed roots within five days and could be transferred to peat pots for
greenhouse culture in 10 days. The use of in vitro micropropagation to
produce numerous plants, which can be selected to enhance survival on
the primary dunes, is discussed.
INTRODUCTION
Atlantic coastal barrier islands are an important resource. As a
physical buffer between the ocean and the mainland, they protect coastal
wetlands from flooding, erosion, salt intrusion, sand burial, and the
generalized effects of storm surges. These islands also serve as the
basis for a highly productive ecosystem capable of supporting a diverse
array of both terrestrial and aquatic life. The physical and ecological
integrity of these islands is maintained by a highly structured series
of plant communities. The island floral complex is roughly divided into
three zones, which, in order of increasing distance from the ocean, are:
the pioneer or dune zone, the intermediate or shrub zone, and the back
dune or forest zone.   Fauna, including crustaceans, amphibians, reptiles,
birds, and mammals are distributed among these zones according to the
availability of suitable food and habitat (Woodhouse, 1982).
Despite the inherent value of these island chains and their associ-
ated salt marshes, this resource has been steadily shrinking. It has
been estimated that 90 percent of the tidewater dune/marsh ecosystems
between Maine and Virginia have been modified by human activity (Shaw &
Fredine, 1956).   Fortunately, the increasing recognition of the ecologi-
cal and commercial value of these areas has promoted considerable
effort toward the preservation and/or restoration of this resource.
The plants used in most dune restoration projects have been selected
for their tolerance of the pioneer zone environment, their ability to
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