In Vitro Propagation of Three Populations of the Endangered, Greek Endemic Cerastium candidissimum and Short-Term Storability of Alginate-Encapsulated Shoot Explants for Exploitation and Conservation

Cerastium candidissimum Correns is an endangered species. Nevertheless, its ornamental characteristics make it ideal candidate for commercial use as a new and landscape plant. As there are no references to the in vitro propagation of this species, present research aims comparatively investigate potential that may have three different populations plant, from Mounts Parnassos (PS), Parnitha (PR), Hymettus (HM), respectively. The establishment initial cultures took place by cotyledonary- stem-node explants, excised grown seedlings, on Murashige Skoog (MS) media, without hormone (Hf), or with 0.5 mg L−1 6-benzyladenine (BA). shooting percentage was higher case PS population (97.6%). It also explants (93.9%). multiplication phase Hf MS, MS containing BA (0.5 1.0 L−1), 0.1 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid. shoot production observed PR (88.0% 76.9% shooting, 3.1 2.7 shoots/explant, respectively). Micro-shoots rooted at high percentages half-strength (80.0–100.0%). Successful acclimatisation (95.0%) established peat: perlite (1:1 v/v). Moreover, efficient alginate-encapsulation procedure developed using 3.0% w/v sodium alginate 14.7 g calcium chloride solution. Alginate beads exhibited proliferation (3.8 shoots) after 60 days storage 4.0 °C 50-day growth than non-encapsulated node-explants did. presented protocol C. could facilitate exploitation species floricultural industry contribute conservation strategies.