Vegetative propagation and ex-situ conservation of Acantholimon androsaceum and Limonium chersonesum, two promising local endemics of Crete (Greece) available for floricultural and pharmaceutical sustainable exploitation

Abstract

The continual search for new attractive ornamentals and innovative natural medicinal products is the main focus of floricultural and pharmaceutical industries worldwide. Aiming to introduce two new Cretan endemic species in the commercial trade, Acantholimon androsaceum (Jaub. & Spach) Boiss. and Limonium chersonesum Erben & Brullo (Plumbaginaceae) have been selected in the current study. These were derived from a total of 223 local endemic species and subspecies of Crete, which constitute an exceptional wild treasure of the Mediterranean flora. Prior to any commercialization, efficient massive propagation protocols are required. Although sexual propagation using seeds collected from the wild was unsuccessful for these two taxa, the results of vegetative propagation experiments were satisfactory. Wild plant material was used for cuttings in order to develop a reasonable and homogenous number of stock mother plants for propagation trials. As a result of experiments conducted in the current research, two vegetative propagation protocols were developed, which could be used commercially for the massive production of elite clonal plants of A. androsaceum and L. chersonesum. These protocols provide 71.43% successful rooting for A. androsaceum within 40 days, using 2000 ppm IBA, and 80.95% rooting for L. chersonesum within 30 days, using 1000 ppm IBA. This study is part of a strategy and research methodology aiming at the selection of new, rare and endemic native industrial crops for the ornamental and pharmaceutical sector, exploiting sustainably the rich phytogenetic resources of Crete.