GIS-facilitated in vitro propagation and ex situ conservation of Achillea occulta

Abstract

A Geographical Information Systems (GIS)-facilitated approach for the in vitro propagation and ex situ conservation of the conservation priority species Achillea occulta is presented. To realize the species' ecological requirements, the coordinates of the original habitat were linked with thematic layers derived from digital databases in a GIS environment. From wild plants, shoot tips were established in vitro in a basal medium with 4 lM 6-benzyladenine (BA) and 0.5 lM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). A modified basal MS medium (modMS, double amount of Fe) proved to be the most effective for in vitro adventitious shoot production. The effect of BA in combination with a-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) or IBA on shoot proliferation was also tested. The highest number of new microshoots/explant (3.5), with 0.93 cm shoot height was obtained when the modMS was supplemented with 5 lM BA and 2.5 lM IBA. To evaluate the root induction ability, microshoots produced were transferred to modMS media supplemented with 0-20 lM IBA and 0-20 lM NAA. Rooting proved to be very difficult and only by adding 20 lM IBA, a 12.5% rooting percentage was achieved. Acclimatization succeeded only during early spring. Young plants transplanted at the Balkan Botanic Garden of Kroussia produced flowers and seeds in the first year. This GIS-approach provided useful guidelines for A. occulta's (a) effective propagation (selection of greenhouse temperatures, temperatures during in vitro culture, suitable period for cuttings and acclimatization of plantlets), and (b) ex situ cultivation (selection of watering regime, temperatures, locations and exposures for growing sites).

GIS and ex situ Plant Conservation

“…Lately, Grigoriadou et al (2011) have shown how the GIS may also be used to serve the needs and procedures of in vitro plant propagation. Using a case-study plant i.e.…”

“…From the above mentioned and when taking into account the associated technical information (see Krigas et al, 2010, Grigoriadou et al, 2011 it becomes apparent that GIS may be used for the development of effective protocols concerning the propagation and initial cultivation of plant material derived from target species.…”

“…For example, the GIS-derived ecological profile of A. occulta published by Grigoriadou et al (2011) for its ex situ conservation, indicated a watering regime equal to a mean total annual precipitation of 744 mm (7-136 mm per month) which was followed for the proper cultivation of the in vitro propagated plants.…”

“…To illustrate an example, the GIS-derived ecological profile of Achillea occulta published by Grigoriadou et al (2011) for its ex situ conservation indicated that (semi-) shady limestone cracks and rock bases with calcaric lithosols should be used as habitats in order to host the propagated plants and a natural positioning at south, south-eastern and south-western exposures of rock formations was chosen as more favorable for plant growth.…”

Effect of temperature and light on seed germination of Erysimum naxense and Erysimum krendlii

“…For seed conservation of these species, studies regarding their germination ability and dormancy status are essential for seed bank storage, reproduction, and future re-introduction of plants in the wild [4][5][6]; such research is also recommended by target 8.1 of the European Strategy for Plant Conservation [1]. In this framework, the conservation efforts of the Balkan Botanic Garden of Kroussia, N Greece, are focused on the rare, threatened, and endemic plants of the Greek and Balkan flora [7] and applied research is conducted concerning the propagation of European priority species [8][9][10].…”