STUDY OF THE PROPAGATION POTENTIAL OF ARNICA MONTANA L. USING CONVENTIONAL AND IN VITRO METHODS

Abstract

Arnica montana L. is a medicinal species of high importance, widely used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. This species shows moderate suitability for cultivation, preferring acidic, well-drained soils and conditions similar to natural mountain habitats. However, reduced germination capacity and slow development of young plants require the use of adapted
propagation techniques. In this context, three propagation methods were evaluated at INCDCSZ Brașov: clump division, sowing in seedbeds and in vitro seed germination. Clump division proved suitable for the propagation of Arnica montana L., ensuring a high establishment rate (98 %), despite its limited multiplication potential. The percentage of emerged Arnica montana L. plants
14 days after sowing was influenced by substrate composition. The most favorable treatment was the mixture consisting of 2/3 black peat and 1/3 perlite. Assessment of germination capacity revealed a higher mean germination percentage under in vitro conditions on MS medium than in Petri dishes, indicating the favorable potential of MS medium for Arnica montana L. seed
germination. This experiment demonstrates that Arnica montana L. can be propagated using combined methods and that the choice of substrate and propagation technique influences germination success and plant development.