Vegetative Propagation Method for Ex situ Conservation of Sida ramoniana Krapov. (Malvaceae) : an Endemic Species with Medicinal Potential in Danger of Extinction

Abstract

Sida ramoniana is an endemic shrub of the Upper Parana Atlantic Forest with potential medicinal properties. Moreover, it is endangered due to the low frequency of individuals found in natural populations and its low seed viability. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the factors influencing the rooting ability in cuttings with and without apex, using auxins such as3-indolebutyric acid (IBA) and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) in the concentrations of 0, 100 and 1000 mg kg-1. The time of immersion in water and in a fungicide solution at a dose of 20 g L-1 and the size of the cuttings: 5, 10 and 15 cm in length, were also evaluated. The best results were obtained in the absence of auxins, 4 h of immersion in fungicide solution and cuttings of 15 cm in length. In these treatments, the rooting capacity was between 90 to 100%, the average number of roots was higher than 10 with root length of 3.93 to 6.76 cm. It is concluded that S. ramoniana can be propagated asexually by apical and sub-apical cuttings without the need auxins induction. This methodology can contribute to the long-term conservation of this species, for future ecological or medicinal studies and to comply with the 15.5 target of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the target 8 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).