Evaluation of species from Cyprus flora for sustainable use in commercial floriculture

Cyprus, despite its small geographic scale, is characterized by a large topographic diversification concerning climate and soil morphology. As a result of these conditions, Cyprus has a large and unique flora of 1910 taxa, with a high (7.3%) percentage of endemism. This work is at a preliminary stage and is a part of a joint project between Cyprus and Greece funded by the Cyprus Research Promotion Foundations. The aim is to study the potential of six endemic species of the Cyprus flora (Arabis purpurea, Centaurea akamantis, Onosma fruticasa, Origanum cordifolium, Ptilostemon chamaepeuce and Euphorbia veneris), for use in sustainable commercial floriculture and at the same time, the project aims at the conservation of these species since all of them are endemic and two of them Centaurea akamantis and Origanum cordifolium are strictly protected by the Bern Convention. Tests on seed germination of these species at different temperatures, showed that 81% of the seeds of Arabis purpurea, germinated at 20 degrees C between the 32(nd) and the 40(th) day and 72 - 76% of Ptilostemon chamaepeuce var.cypria, between 10 and 16 days. A high percentage of Origanum cordifolium (82%), germinated at the temperature of 10 degrees C and 79% at 15 degrees C, in both cases after 6 days. For Centaurea akamantis, the percentage of seed germination was lower and reached 70% in 14 days at 15 degrees C and 55% in 25 days at 20 degrees C. Best results for Euphorbia veneris propagated by tissue culture, were observed when stem nodes without leaves were used as explants. It is shown that 0,5 mg.l(-1) BAP in Euphorbia veneris led to satisfactory bud differentiation and shoot proliferation.