COMPARATIVE STUDIES ON POPULATION GENETIC STRUCTURE OF FLORIDA’S THREATENED PINE-PINK (Bletia purpurea) ORCHID

Anthropogenic impacts, including urbanization and development of the Greater Everglades ecosystem, have severely reduced and fragmented populations of Bletia purpurea. Differences across populations in Florida, such as habitat preferences, blooming periods, and self-fertilization abilities have been documented. Genetic data is becoming essential for developing effective conservation strategies to prevent the disappearance of threatened orchids from the wild. Using a target capture method with the Orchidaceae963 baitset, we assessed the genetic diversity of eight wild populations and five cultivated sources of B. purpurea. Our findings reveal two areas of concern; S1 which forms a distinct genetic cluster, and E3, where inbreeding rates are notably high. Additionally, three of the five cultivated sources showed significant differentiation from the wild populations, highlighting the need for more diverse maternal lines in cultivation efforts. These results emphasize the critical role of genetic assessments in informing conservation strategies for threatened orchid populations.