Biotechnological efforts for the propagation of Quercus lusitanica Lam., an endangered species

• Published in: Trees (Berlin, West) West), 2017-10, Vol.31 (5), p.1571-1581
• Main Authors: José, M. C. San, Martínez, M. T., Cernadas, M. J., Montenegro, R., Mosteiro, F., Corredoira, E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acclimatization; Acetic acid; Activated carbon; Activated charcoal; Agriculture; Benzyladenine; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Butyric acid; Charcoal; Conservation; Cultivation; Endangered & extinct species; Endangered species; Endemic species; Explants; Flushing; Forestry; Horizontal orientation; Indole-3-butyric acid; Indoleacetic acid; Life Sciences; Micropropagation; Original Article; Plant Anatomy/Development; Plant Pathology; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Plantlets; Propagation; Rooting; Seed Biology and Micropropagation; Shoots; Survival; Vitrification; Wildlife conservation; Woody plants; Zeatin
• ISSN: 0931-1890; 1432-2285
• DOI: 10.1007/s00468-017-1570-2

Key message A protocol is presented for the micropropagation and short-term conservation of Quercus lusitanica Lam. This is the first time that a simple protocol is presented for the micropropagation and short-term conservation of Quercus lusitanica, an endemic and endangered species that is found in very restricted habitats of the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa. Branch segments from 15- to 20-year-old trees were forced-flushed, and the forced shoots were used as a source of explants for culture initiation. The best multiplication rates were obtained on Woody Plant Medium (WPM) supplemented with 0.1 mg l −1 benzyladenine for the genotype CDL, or 0.2 mg l −1 benzyladenine, 0.5 mg l −1 indole acetic acid, and 0.2 mg l −1 zeatin in the case of the genotype SC1. Although the cultivation of shoots in the horizontal position improved the proliferation rates, the shoot vitrification was increased under these conditions. The best rooting rates were obtained on half-strength WPM supplemented with 3 mg l −1 indole-3-butyric acid for 7 days with subsequent transfer to auxin-free medium supplemented with 0.4% activated charcoal. An initial 5-day dark period was detrimental to the quality of regenerated plantlets. Well-acclimatized plantlets were transferred to the field with a 70% survival rate.