ASHS 2025 Conference

Advancing restoration and conservation of coastal dune species improves dune ecosystem function by maintaining biodiversity, mitigating habitat degradation, and reducing erosion through stabilization of deteriorating dunes. Galactia microphylla (Littleleaf Milkpea) is a leguminous coastal dune species found in the Florida panhandle which serves as the sole food source for beach mice (Peromyscus polionotus) for more than one month in fall. We conducted a container production experiment to determine the effects of 3 gallon pot type (tall and short) and fertility regimes (Osmocote 15-9-12 plus minors; 3 month formulation) with 1, 2, or 3, 15 g applications applied at a maximum of 15 g per month over 3 months. The experiment was a randomized complete block design with a split-split plot arrangement of treatments restricting randomization with pot type randomly allocated within each block and fertilizer application randomized within each pot type. There were nine single pot subsamples per treatment for a total of 324 pots. Each pot was filled with the same volume of 100% pine bark mulch with fines and planted with 8 (tall pots) or 12 (short pots) heat scarified seed on week 20 (April 16, 2024). Fertilization began week 24 (June 10, 2024) and emergence (%) recorded June 13, 2024. First flower and first fruit (green capsules) were recorded by production week, and mature fruit harvested when brown to evaluate seed production potential. Emergence was 69.3% with no difference between pot types. First flower (Weeks 34–35) and first fruit (Week 36) did not differ among pot types or fertility regimes. Fruit (2 fruits/pot) and seed number (7.6 seed/pot), seed per fruit (1.5) or seeds per plant (1.2) did not differ between the pot types or among the three fertilization regimes. Results suggest bulk container production of Galactia microphylla has potential in both pot types and that flowering, fruiting and seed production are not improved with fertilization regimes providing greater than the standard (30 gram) Osmocote application. Additionally, there was no evidence of a difference in flowering, fruiting, or seed production when fertilization exceeded the standard level of application. Overall, this experiment provides support for bulk container production of Galactia microphylla for tuber production and suggests the lowest quantity of fertilizer tested was sufficient to achieve fruit and seed production.