Propagation of Sternbergia sicula, by seed and tissue culture

Sternbergia sicula (Tineo ex Guss), Amaryllidaceae, is a bulbous perennial plant native of Eastern Mediterranean countries growing in rocky areas 100 to 1000 m high. It bears bright yellow flowers in early autumn before leaves appear in a rosette form. It is an attractive plant with potential use in commercial floriculture mainly as a landscape plant. Seed propagations as well as tissue culture techniques were investigated in order to determine the most effective ways to propagate this species. Seed collected from native plants in Crete were sown in vitro and in vivo under different light and temperature conditions for 6 weeks. Germination percentage was highest at 15°C in darkness while at 25°C and light the seeds did not germinate. Best results were obtained if seeds were pretreated in wet vermiculite at 20°C for 4 weeks. For the in vitro culture, 0.5 × 0.5 cm explants were taken from bulbs of 5 cm circumference and cultured in MS basal medium supplemented with several combinations of BA and NAA at 25°C for 12 weeks. Each explant produced 3-4 bulblets with BA alone. After subculturing, more and bigger bulblets were produced which were then transferred to soil. The use of Sternbergia for ornamental use seems promising however further research is required for determining the optimum conditions for its growth and development