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My research has the overall focus of understanding the
reproductive biology of plants that are native to Illinois. Currently my
emphasis is in two areas. One area deals with plants that are endangered or
threatened in Illinois. These studies seek to identify factors that limit the
success of these plants including many reproductive ones such as development and
pollination of flowers, development and production of fruits and seeds,
dispersal and longevity of seeds, dormancy and germination of seeds, and
development of seedlings. These studies include laboratory, greenhouse and field
components. Findings of these studies are used by biologists within the Illinois
Department of Natural Resources and other agencies to make better informed
decisions relative to management of natural areas where endangered and
threatened plant species are found. Information relative to this research is at
http://www.eiu.edu/~teplants.
Another area of my research is the use of native Illinois plants in landscaping.
This area ties to reproductive biology because little is known about the culture
of most native plants using pots or containers in greenhouses, which is a common
practice for growing herbaceous plants frequently used in landscaping. My
research investigates factors that are needed to propagate healthy, flowering
plants in a period of time that is short enough to be economically profitable
for greenhouse producers. These factors include seed treatments, vegetative
propagation, container types, water/fertilizer/media needs, light requirements,
flower development, and pest problems. Most production studies are done in
laboratories and greenhouses, but we also have an outreach component that
involves outdoor gardens where gardeners around Illinois have planted native
plants (produced in our studies) in their home and community demonstration
gardens. These gardeners evaluate plant performance regarding establishment,
appearance, flowering, fertilizer/water/soil/light needs, pests, and other
problems. We also have outreach via workshops and articles to gardeners and the
Green Industry to share information we have gained in our research studies as
well as general information about using native plants in landscaping.
Information relative to this research is at
http://www.eiu.edu/~n_plants.
My teaching includes mostly classes in horticulture and plant physiology. These
classes have an active lab component to involve students. In addition, I mentor
several students doing undergraduate and graduate research. These student
projects frequently result in presentations at professional meetings. Student
accomplishments with these projects are recognized by grants, awards, and
publications.
EIU
Threatened and Endangered Plant Species Research Program
Landscaping with Native Plants
Poster
Presentations:
Floral initiation and
development of the Illinois endangered species, Iliamna remota, with
different photoperiods. 2006.
Seasonal effects on seed
quality of two native herbaceous perennials (Dalea candida and Dalea
purpurea). 2004.
A
Survey of Non-Native Plants Along Roadsides in the Central and Western States.
2003.
Comparison of Seed Production
and Germination in Three Distinct Colonies of Lesquerella ludoviciana.
2003.
Influence
of Light and Sucrose on In Vitro Development of Shoots in Stylisma
Pickeringii var.
2003.
Attempts
to Propagate Stylisma pickeringii, an Endangered Plant in Illinois, Using
Stem Cuttings. 2002.
Coralberry
(Symphoricarpos orbiculatus): a native landscaping and wildlife habitat
alternative to Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii). 2002.
Lesquerella
ludoviciana Germination as Affected by Season of Development, Storage, and
Afterripening.2002.
Pollen
Comparison From Insect Visitors to Stylisma pickeringii (Convolvulaceae),
an Endangered Plant of Illinois Sand Prairies. 2002.
Germination of Lesquerella
ludoviciana as Affected by Colony Location and Seed Maturity. 2001.
Germination
of Lesquerella ludoviciana as Affected by Seed Age. 2001.
Recent
Grants
2003 J.M.
Coons and J. Cunningham*, EIU Undergraduate Research Award. Seasonal
Effects on Seed Quality of Two Native Herbaceous Perennials. $250
2003 J.M.
Coons, Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Impact of
Geological and Meteorological Factors on the Disjunctive Distribution of
Lesquerella ludoviciana in Illinois -- Co-PI. $1000
2003 J.M.
Coons EIU Council for Faculty Research. Development of Production
Techniques to Provide Native Plants for use in Illinois Landscaping.
$4,000
2002-2005 J.M. Coons,
Illinois Council for Food &
Agricultural Research Native Herbaceous Perennials as Alternative Crops
for Illinois Nurseries. $100,000
2002 J.M. Coons,
IDNR Seedbanks and Plant Development of Stylisma
pickeringii, an Endangered Plant in Illinois -- Co-P.I. $1,000
2002 J.M. Coons,
IDNR Comparison of Populations of
Lesquerella ludoviciana throughout its range Co-P.I. $1,000
2002 J.M. Coons,
Illinois Native Plant Society.
Investigation of Insect Visits to Flowers of Stylisma pickeringii
(Patterson Bindweed), an Endangered Plant of Illinois Sand Prairies
Co-P.I.$ 979
2002
H.R. Owen, J.M. Coons, and B.L. Todd*. Investigation of insect visits to
flowers of Stylisma pickeringii. Illinois Native Plant Society. $978.85.
2002 J.M. Coons,
H.R. Owen, and A.E. Claerbout*. Seedbanks and
plant development of Stylisma pickeringii, an endangered plant in
Illinois. Illinois Department of Natural Resources. $1,000.
2002 J.M. Coons, CFR Research Project: Long-term study of old
field succession $3642.25
2001 J.M. Coons,
University of Illinois- SURE Program,
Environmental Council. Factors that Affect the Seed Vigor of Lesquerella
ludoviciana, an Endangered Illinois Plant Mentor on student (S. Beach)
project. $2,000
2001 J.M. Coons,
University of Illinois- SURE Program,
Environmental Council. Greenhouse Establishment of Stylisma pickeringii,
an Endangered Plant in Illinois, Using Cuttings or Seeds in Different
Photoperiods Mentor on student (L. Skoglund) project. $2,000
2001 J.M. Coons,
IDNR. Reproductive Biology of Silvery Bladderpod,
an Illinois Endangered Species Co P.I. $1,000
2001-2002. J.M. Coons,
IDNR Seed Vigor of Virginia Bunchflower(Melanthium
virginicum) from Illinois Co P.I. $1,000
2001 Coons, J.M. and
H.R. Owen. Seed vigor of Virginia
Bunchflower (Melanthium virginicum) from Illinois. Illinois Department of
Natural Resources. $1,000.
2001 Coons, J.M. and
H.R. Owen. Reproductive biology of Silvery
Bladderpod, an Illinois endangered species. Illinois Department of Natural
Resources. $1,000.
2001 J.M. Coons, Eastern Illinois University Foundation Redden Fund
Grant. Funds to develop Plant Ecology as an experimentally oriented course.
$1500.00
2001 J.M. Coons, IDNR Wildlife Preservation Fund #02-002W "The
effects of Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) on tree
regeneration." $930.00
2001 J.M. Coons, Council on Faculty Research Summer Research Award.
"Determinants of invasion by two exotic plant species $4,000.00
2000 J.M. Coons
and S. Beach*,
University of Illinois JBT Undergraduate Research Program. Reproductive Potential of Lesquerella,
an Endangered Illinois Plant. $1,000
2000 J.M. Coons
and S. Beach*,
University of Illinois Sure Program, Environmental Council. Reproductive Potential of Lesquerella,
an Endangered Illinois Plant. $2,000
2000 J.M.
Coons and K. Donnelly*, University of Illinois SURE Program,
Environmental Council, Influence of Cytokinins on Shoot Initiation and
Elongation of Stylisma pickeringii, an Endangered Plant in
Illinois. $2000
2000 J.M.
Coons, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Reproductive Potential
in Tree Colonies of Silvery Bladerpod (Lesquerella ludoviciana).
Co-PI $1000
2000 J.M.
Coons, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Reproductive Potential
of Endangered Species Stylisma pickeringii. Co PI. $1000
2000 J.M.
Coons, EIU Council for Faculty Research. Reproductive Potential of
Two Endangered Plant species in Illinois. Co PI $2500
2000 J.M.
Coons and A. Kerber*, EIU Undergraduate Research Grant. Photoperiod
Impact on Lateral Shoot Growth in Stylisma pickeringii. $250
2000 J.M.
Coons and B. Fischer*. EIU Undergraduate Research Grant. Seed Vigor and
How it Relates to Genetic Variability in Silene regia. $250
1999-2000
J.M. Coons, EIU Council for Faculty Research. Seed Biology of Four
Endangered or Threatened Plant species in Illinois. Co PI $3795
1999 J.M.
Coons, Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Reproductive
Limitations of Seeds and Seedlings in Stylisma pickeringii.
Co PI $996
1999 J.M.
Coons, Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Determination of Seed
Vigor and Genetic Variability in Illinois Populations of Silene regia
(Royal catchfly) along the Wabash River. Co PI $1000
1999 J.M.
Coons, EIU Council for Faculty Research. Site Inventory and Seed
Collection of Four Illinois Endangered or Threatened Plant Species. Co
PI $2500
1999 J.M.
Coons and B. Todd*, EIU Undergraduate Research Grant. Scarification of
Stylisma pickeringii (Patterson Bindweed). $250
1999 J.M.
Coons and M. Sojka*, EIU Undergraduate Research Grant. Germination and
Propagation of Stylisma pickeringii, a Threatened Species in Illinois.
$500
Recent
Publications
Coons, J.M., L. Greenwood-DeLine*, A. Kerber*, and A.
Claerbout*. 2003. Native plants --- a new alternative for nurseries.
Growing Trends. December. p. 21-23.
Mallady, S.A.*, J.M. Coons, J.A.D. Parrish, and K.T.
Montgomery. 2003. Gas exchange and yields of Bt resistant maize (Zea
mays L.) with European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis, Hubner)
infestation. Trans. Illinois State Acad. Sci. 96:151-161.
Claerbout, A.E.*, and J.M. Coons. 2002. A fine day for a
hunt
at Crooked Falls Natural Area. Conservation Chronicle (Cascade
County Conservation District, Montana) 36:5-6.
Todd*,
B.L., J.M. Coons, and H.R. Owen. 2002. Scarification technique affects
germination of Stylisma pickeringii (Patterson Bindweed), an
Illinois endangered plant. Amer. Midland Naturalist 148:190-192.
Coons,
J.M. 2001. Fate of horticulture in merged departments. (Proceedings of
Workshop at ASHS-2000). Introduction to the Workshop. HortTechnology
11:397-398.
Webb,
D.W. 2001. Heterostylum in Illinois (Diptera: Bombyliidae:
Bombyliinae). Jour. Kansas Entomological Society 74:110-111. This report
was based upon collection of these insects visiting Stylisma
pickeringii plants by Drs. Owen and Coons.
Coons, J.M. 2000. Its all about learning. (Proceedings
of Workshop at ASHS-1999). Introduction to the Workshop. HortTechnology
10:275-276.
*=
Student Author
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