In vitro Conservation of Campanula sclerophylla Kolak ? Endemic Endangered Species of Western Caucasus

A successful in vitro conservation protocol for the endangered relict plant Campanula sclerophylla, endemic to the Western Caucasus, was developed. The study achieved a high multiplication rate of 7.2 shoots per explant using half-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 3 mg/l benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 1 mg/l indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Explants could be stored for up to 9 months without subculture at 7°C under low light conditions (23 lux), maintaining viability. The addition of sorbitol (3 g/l) and abscisic acid (ABA, 5 mg/l) effectively inhibited shoot growth, providing a means for slow-growth conservation. This breakthrough offers a sustainable method to preserve this critically endangered species in its natural habitat.

Kolomiets, T., Malyarovskaya, V., & Samarina, L. (2016). In vitro Conservation of Campanula sclerophylla Kolak ? Endemic Endangered Species of Western Caucasus. Plant Tissue Culture and Biotechnology, 26(2), 143–149. https://doi.org/10.3329/ptcb.v26i2.30564