Ex situ conservation of Dyckia distachya: an endangered bromeliad from South Brazil

Abstract

The Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome contains a high level of genetic diversity. Historically, several factors have contributed to the drastic reduction of its cover, today restricted to less than 7%. Large forest areas have been cut down in the states of Santa Catarina and Paraná to make way for hydroelectric power plant dams and many plant species are threatened to various degrees, especially the endemic. This is the case of the Dyckia distachya bromeliad, native to the rocky banks of the River Uruguay that is threatened with extinction because of the construction of a dam for the Itá Hydroelectric power plant. The present study describes the plant’s most relevant characteristics and the results of ex situ and in vitro conservation. Plants and seeds were colleted and established ex situ in the bromeliad germplasm bank. Seeds were germinated in the laboratory and the resulting plants conserved in vitro using the growth reduction technique. Both methodologies were considered effective for germplasm conservation.