In vitro seed germination, seedling development and aclimattization of Actinocephalus polyanthus (bong.) Sano, an endemic everlasting flower species

Actinocephalus polyanthus (bong.) Sano (Eriocaulaceae) is an everlasting endemic endemic to Brazil with great potential for use in landscaping and as a cut flower on the national and international markets. In order to ensure that its use as an ornamental plant does not jeopardise populations of the species in areas of natural occurrence, as well as to avoid predatory extraction, the development of protocols for its propagation is extremely important. However, no protocol for the in vitro propagation of Actinocephalus polyanthus has been reported in the literature. The aim of this study was to establish a protocol for the germination, seedling development and acclimatization of A. polyanthus. The use of Wood plant medium culture medium at concentrations of 75 and 100% proved to be the most effective for germinating the seeds, but it was not the best medium for growing the seedlings, given that for the growth phase the medium was MS at the highest concentrations, also 75 and 100% salt concentrations, for acclimatization the use of a shading screen proved to be the most effective and the use of washed sand or carolina soil were the best substrates.