Bertsouklis & Panagaki 2022 (Article) Dyckia

In Vitro Germination and Propagation of Dyckia brevifolia, an Ornamental and Endangered Bromeliad

Author(s):—K. Bertsouklis & K.P. Panagaki

Corresponding email:—kber@aua.gr

Publication:—Horticulturae 8(390): 1-14. (2022) — DOI

Abstract:—Dyckia brevifolia is an endangered plant used for ornamental purposes. As no references to the in vitro propagation of the species exist, the present study aims at investigating the possibility of an efficient micropropagation protocol. Seeds collected from mother plants were germinated at high percentages (84–86%) at a range of 15–25 °C, without any pre‐treatment, and demonstrated their highest germination speed index (191.51) at 25 °C. In vitro‐grown seedlings were used as the starting material for micropropagation on solid, or liquid, MS medium, supplemented with a variety of concentrations of cytokinins (BA, KIN or 2IP). Shoots and leaves were used as starting explants. Liquid media supplemented with BA or 2IP at 1.0 mg L−1 led to high multiplication rate and 2.7, or 2.3, lateral shoots were regenerated while on 2IP a high percentage (77.5%) of rooting occurred at the same time. Rooted microshoots were acclimatised ex vitro at 100% and acclimatised plants were transplanted in pots where they grew with a survival rate of 100% after two months. The in vitro propagation protocol presented in this study could enhance the large‐scale propagation use of D. brevifolia as an ornamental plant and, simultaneously, contribute to the ex‐situ conservation of the species.

Keywords:—acclimatisation; Bromeliaceae; GSI; liquid culture; micropropagation; tissue culture