GIS Bioclimatic Profile and Seed Germination of the Endangered and Protected Cretan Endemic Plant Campanula cretica (A. DC.) D. Dietr. for Conservation and Sustainable Utilization

Theodora-Nafsika Panagiotidou, Ioannis Anestis, Elias Pipinis, Stefanos Kostas, Georgios Tsoktouridis, Stefanos Hatzilazarou () and Nikos Krigas ()
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Theodora-Nafsika Panagiotidou: Laboratory of Floriculture, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Ioannis Anestis: Laboratory of Floriculture, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Elias Pipinis: Laboratory of Silviculture, School of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Stefanos Kostas: Laboratory of Floriculture, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Georgios Tsoktouridis: Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter (ELGO-Dimitra), P.O. Box 60458, 57001 Thermi, Greece
Stefanos Hatzilazarou: Laboratory of Floriculture, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Nikos Krigas: Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter (ELGO-Dimitra), P.O. Box 60458, 57001 Thermi, Greece

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 11, 1-16

Abstract: This study focused on the seed germination of the local Cretan endemic Campanula cretica , an endangered and nationally protected species with ornamental value. To determine its seed germination requirements, high-resolution bioclimatic (temperature and precipitation) maps were integrated with geographic distribution data of C. cretica using Geographic Information Systems. The seed germination was tested at four constant temperatures (10, 15, 20, and 25 °C) with a photoperiod of 12 h light/12 h dark and under light/darkness and darkness at 15 °C. Pre-treatments with gibberellic acid solutions (500 and 1000 mg·L −1 GA 3 ) and cold moist stratification at 5 °C were applied to investigate seed dormancy. Seed germination was significantly affected by the interaction of temperature and seed pre-treatments; without pre-treatment, the seeds germinated better (>85%) at 10 and 15 °C. The detected seed germination pattern matched the natural temperatures prevailing in situ during late autumn. Pre-treatments with GA 3 solutions and cold stratification first reported herein widened the seed germination range at 20 and 25 °C. The seeds germinated better in light (94.38%) than in darkness (69.38%). The results of this investigation addressed existing research gaps (GIS-derived bioclimatic profiling, effects of incubation temperature, cold stratification, GA 3 , and light investigated for the first time), thus facilitating species-specific conservation efforts and enabling sustainable utilization strategies.

Keywords: neglected and underutilized plants; sexual propagation; cold stratification; gibberellic acid; ecological requirements; Campanulaceae (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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