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Kent Academic Repository Full text document (pdf) Citation for published version Chaipanich, Vinan Vince (2020) Ecology and Ex Situ Conservation of Vanilla siamensis (Rolfe ex Downie) in Thailand. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) thesis, University of Kent,. DOI Link to record in KAR https://kar.kent.ac.uk/85312/ Document Version UNSPECIFIED Copyright & reuse Content in the Kent Academic Repository is made available for research purposes. Unless otherwise stated all content is protected by copyright and in the absence of an open licence (eg Creative Commons), permissions for further reuse of content should be sought from the publisher, author or other copyright holder. Versions of research The version in the Kent Academic Repository may differ from the final published version. Users are advised to check http://kar.kent.ac.uk for the status of the paper. Users should always cite the published version of record. Enquiries For any further enquiries regarding the licence status of this document, please contact: [email protected] If you believe this document infringes copyright then please contact the KAR admin team with the take-down information provided at http://kar.kent.ac.uk/contact.html Ecology and Ex Situ Conservation of Vanilla siamensis (Rolfe ex Downie) in Thailand By Vinan Vince Chaipanich November 2020 A thesis submitted to the University of Kent in the School of Anthropology and Conservation, Faculty of Social Sciences for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Abstract A loss of habitat and climate change raises concerns about change in biodiversity, in particular the sensitive species such as narrowly endemic species. Vanilla siamensis is one such endemic species. A preliminary cursory observation indicates that a lot of Vanilla siamensis vines cut when an ecosystem ismodified by human activity. Elucidating the steps of In-situ and Ex-situ conservation methods are thus required. This thesis focuses on the In-situ methods that are used for conserving biodiversity and monitoring their population under natural conditions and Ex-situ conservation methods used to preserve their diversity outside the natural habitats. I start by presenting In-situ conservation methods. The conservation of a species in their natural habitat is done by studying the impact of ecological factors on the distribution of Vanilla siamensis (Orchidaceae: subfamily Vanilloideae). The tree host species in Tropical Forest at Khao Soi Dao Wildlife Sanctuary, Chantaburi, Thailand is also discussed. I then move on to focus on the natural pollinators of Vanilla siamensis, their floral morphology, and fruit set. Lastly, I present the Ex-Situ Conservation Methods. This involves In vitro seed germination and plantlet regeneration of Vanilla siamensis, and evaluation of Cryopreservation protocols for Vanilla siamensis. It has been reported that the Genus Vanilla produces numerous minute seeds that do not germinate under natural conditions. Thus, using In vitro seed germination and plantlet regeneration techniques could be used to successfully germinate the seeds. Protocol for Cryopreservation of seed and embryo culture of Vanilla siamensis has been standardized and summarized by my co-workers. The findings of this thesis have the potential to be applied for the conservation of Vanilla siamensis inside their habitat, while the Ex-situ conservation techniques can be used to grow Vanilla siamensis in habitats where it could not have survived unaided. i Acknowledgements First and foremost, I would like to thank my supervisor Dr. David Roberts for his advice and support throughout this research, who encouraged me to undertake this work. This has been a big turning point of my life with personal diary, fulfillemt, and unforgettable gratitude. During these three years, my work has been full time, self financed, and as a 67 years old pensioner, I must have been probably the oldest postgraduate student in the country. This work is the result of hard work, dedication, inspiration, thoughtfulness, guidance, unlimited energy, determination, moral support, and generosity of my family, friends and colleagues. My quick three years research has come to its quest completion. I have laughed, shared, had my jaw dropped, been startled with quizzical looks many times and been to beautiful places around the world. I have been soaked with sweat and rain in the forest, stung by bees and wasps, roasted in the extreme heat of Madagascar, bitten by mosquitoes and leeches in the monsoon season and scared to death of being trampled by the wild elephants at Kao Soi Dow, being a protected wild life animal Sanctuary. In this Sanctuary, there are around twenty five wild elephants roaming around a waterfall area where the research was carried out on V. siamensis habitation. During the day times, V. siamensis are found near the waterfall and at higher elevations between 300 to 400 metre above sea level. However, during the evening around 6 to 7 pm, the herd comes down to the orchard plantations to dine on bananas, pineapples, coconuts, mangoes, rambutans, mangoestein, and any other edible plants. These disruptions cause the farmers to deter from going out until the noise minimizes. All houses within this vicinity, including mine, are boardered with a soft electric shock single wire fence. All roads have billboards with the warning “Careful driving with wild elephants crossing”. A great thank you to all these farmers for their protective advanced warning. This research is truly my pride, passion, and not only just a job. At the same time, this research has led me to gain direct and indirect knowledge about topics related and unrelated to my research. Rejected by my own disappointment, I have been rendered speechless and struck by the unexpected generosity of some incredible people of Colombia, Madagascar, and Thailand. I have learned about the genetics of Vanilla vines and my new V. planifolia x V. siamensis hybrid may be a tetraploid as well, like the V. tahitensis. This process is known as polyploidization. This is quite common in orchid hybrids like the Vanda coerulea supra (Lord Rothschild’s Variety), one of the parents is Vanda coerulea, found in the same area as V. siamensis. I got mesmerized by evolution as described by Charles Darwin's trails at his Down ii house and have revisited it on a few occasions.This was the former home of the English naturalist Charles Darwin and his family. It was in this house and garden that Darwin worked on his theories of evolution by natural selection which he had conceived in London. I trailed his voyage to the Galapagos Islands, followed his disappointed vision to explore the mimic orchid (The Bee-Ophyrs) at Cudham in Kent, popularly known as Darwins’orchid Bank. Darwin’s observations of orchids and their insect pollinators at Orchid Bank provided the evidence for his important book. Fertilization of orchids, published in 1862, which inspired his now famous book, Origin of Species. Presently, Downe Bank is a nature reserve owned and managed by the Kent Wildlife trust in the North Downs, close to Downe in the London borough of Bromley. It is on Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) together with the neighbouring High Elm Country Park located close to Charles Darwin’s home, Down House. It became his favourite place and helped inspire his work. The British and French plant-hunters like Dr. Arthur Francis Kerr, who discovered and collected the first V. siamensis specimen in Siam in 1905. His original collection can be seen at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in the Herbarium. This V. siamensis is listed in CITES as an endangered species in Thailand, but at the same time being cut down by the unconcern, uninformed authority due to their massive growth in situ. It was named “siamensis” by Robert Allen Rolfe and Dorothy G Downie to honour, then Siam in 1925. The country changed name from Siam to Thailand, from being an Absolute Monarchy to Constitutional Elected Government on the 24th June 1946 with the Monarchy being the head of States. It is true, without the motivation and assistance, there is a good chance that I would have mysteriously vanished in the tangled maze of various rain forests in Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Sarawak and Thailand or even, lost my way in the labyrinths of a massive, complicated ANOVA data set. My first and most deepest gratitude must go to the late Professor Rapee Sagarik, who passed away only months ago, at the age of 96. The professor boosted and supported my interest to do a PhD level research, like the Greek “Theophrastus” the father of Botany, the Professor Rapee has been bestowed with the honour of Father of Thai Orchidology. He was not only an academic, but his wisdom extended much further into horticulture, agriculture and philosophy. He inspired me, most importantly with his talks, lectures, books, and even hand painted oil drawing of V. siamensis presented to me as an encouragement. Not to mention treated me to an impromptu violin recital of his own compositions. He dedicated his whole life to the conservation work of orchid in Thailand. A great educator, iii he shared his knowledge freely with anyone and everyone. I have enjoyed, shared and learned a lot during my three-year research, made many new friends and contacts around the world. A second person whom I am greatly indebted to is my favourite mentor and Chemistry teacher, Dr.William Warren at my early English Public Boarding School on the Isle of Wight (1966-1972). Sadly, he passed away this July 2018 at an age of 86 year old. He opened my world into Chemistry, especially the organic, aromatic compounds. His teaching of Chemistry subject still reverberates through my life to until this day. During the three-year research I have travelled to many countries, including Mexico, Cuba, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Galapagos Islands, Madagascar, Uganda, Reunion, India, Sarawak, Indonesia, New Caledonia, Tahiti and other endless countries visited.

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