Figure 5.

Methods of plant cultivation (A to J) and conservation of bromeliad species (K and L). Controlled light period and temperature for plant growth can be obtained in a culture room (A). In vitro cultivation can be performed with meristematic tissues activity such as nodal segments (B) or from seeds germination (C) for the propagation of a large number of plants (D). Biochemical Oxygen Demand incubators with controlled environmental conditions can be used in experimental studies about temperature influence on plants survival and growth (E). In vitro cultured plants may be acclimatized in soil and maintained in a culture room for later use in experimental studies (F). A plastic sack may be used as a cover to prevent moisture loss and dehydration during acclimatization (G). Detail of juvenile bromeliads in seedling trays during acclimatization (H). Species obtained from their natural environments and allocated in the Bromeliaceae collection of the Research Center on Ornamental Plants – “Instituto de Botânica”, São Paulo, Brazil (ex situ conservation; more information at http://botanica.sp.gov.br/) (K and L) were used as seed sources for in vitro conservation and propagation studies. Photo credits: (A-C, E-H, J) Victória Carvalho; (D) Camila P. Carvalho; (I, K, L) Catarina C. Nievola.