Published in Scientific Papers. Series B, Horticulture, Vol. LXVIV, Issue 2
Written by Florentina ALDEA, Florența-Elena HELEPCIUC, Elena Monica MITOI
Osmunda regalis L. (royal fern) is a species with special ornamental values that can reach 2.5 m in height. The species is extinct in Romania and threatened in several European countries, it prefers humid habitats with spores having a short viability period. . Our studies focused on the introduction of this species in in vitro culture, in order to propagate the sporophytes and subsequent acclimatization. The spores were sterilized and inoculated on the nutrient medium MS ½, the differentiation of the protalli being achieved after approximately 3 weeks from the initiation of the culture. Sexual multiplication was achieved by differentiating sporophytes in gametophytic cultures on nutrient depleted medium MS½ without ammonium nitrate and vitamins. Later, clonal multiplication was achieved by detaching the sporophytes and subcultivation on the same type of medium. Acclimatization was carried out on seven substrate variants, with different pH, composition and granulation, the best results being obtained on the substrate which contained 80% peat and 20% humus. Through this technique, it was possible to obtain viable sporophytes, also, rooting and acclimatization at the greenhouse level for horticultural exploitation or the repopulation of suitable habitats.
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