In vitro propagation of three endangered species in Japanese forests

In vitro propagation techniques were developed for three endangered plants found in Japanese forests, namely Cypripedium guttatum, Glaucidium palmatum, and Pinus armandii var. amamiana. Cypripedium guitatum was propagated via protocorm induction of immature seeds on a third-strength MS medium containing 1 mu M BAP. Glaucidium palmatum was propagated via somatic embryogenesis from immature seeds on a half-strength MS medium containing 2.22 mu M BAP. Pinus armandii var. amamiana was propagated via both organ culture of mature embryos on a half-strength DCR medium containing 0.4-2 mu M BAP and somatic embryogenesis of immature or mature embryos on an ammonium-free MS or a half-strength EM medium. In vitro culture may help supply stock plants for the rehabilitation of damaged populations of herbal plants, or provide rootstocks for other propagation methods (e.g., grafting and producing seeds in seed orchards) in endangered trees.