Conservation of Endangered Species: <i>Androsace mathildae</i> Levier (<i>Primulaceae</i>) in Central Italy

Abstract

Climate change influences the distribution of species, causing the displacement of distribution areas, both in altitude and latitude. The potentially most climate change-susceptible taxa are those of mountain peaks, with limited distribution areas, such as rare or endemic species. In this paper, we deepened the study of Androsace mathildae Levier, a plant that lives in Central Italy over 2500 m asl. This species, classified as a rare plant according to the Red List of Plants of Italy, is included in Appendix I of the Bern Convention, Annex II and IV Habitats Directive 92/43 CEE, and is protected under Regional Law n. 45/79 of the Abruzzo Italian Region. In order to preserve A. mathildae, morphological observations and ex situ preservation have been performed. Results indicate that the germination of seeds increases in the presence of extracts of humic acids obtained by the decomposition of the lower leaves of the plant. The presence of Pyrenophora bromi (Ascomyta) on the leaves as a decomposition agent, has never been reported either on A. mathildae or at these altitudes. A number of experiments to obtain callus induction and neomorphogenesis were conducted to identify suitable procedures for in vitro stabilization. The obtained shoots had a high number of lateral buds (6.3 per plant, on average) which were used to increase the number of clones present in the growth chamber within a few sub-culture passages. This in vitro material will be used in cryopreservation and to improve the restocking activity of A. mathildae.