In vitro propagation of Primula allionii Loisel.

Abstract Primula allionii is a protected small herbaceous perennial plant that is endemic to the French and Italian Maritime Alps and has an interesting ornamental value. The aim of this work was to establish a clonal propagation protocol for commercial exploitation and for ex situ conservation of its natural genepool. Owing to the poor germination potentiality a micropropagation protocol was established for three seedling clones (A,B,C); the treatment with BA (0.3 mg l-1) induced a significant response in all clones respect to the other treatments and reached in clone C a multiplication rate of 3. BA gave also a dissimilar leaf shape. Furthermore, the variability in the plant behaviour is related to the genotype. Rooting was achieved for clones B and C with a general average of 57%; the best result (69%) was obtained in the presence of 30 g l-1. Plants of the two clones coming from rooting media showed 43% (clone B) and 74% (clone C) of acclimatization; the addition of activated charcoal permitted to increase the behaviour of plants of clone B that reached in this case 68% acclimatization.