BIODIVERSITY OF ORNAMENTAL PLANTS WITH POTENTIAL AS INDOOR PLANTS IN ROMANIA

During the last decade in Romania the interest for ornamental plants grew considerably, particularly for indoor plants. Visual enhancement and a taste for beautiful, as well as psychosocial benefits created by plants in dwellings, service institutions or shops have expanded both in the urban and rural environment. In order to satisfy the ever-growing demand, the Research Station Baneasa brings its contribution to increasing life quality with a collection of 318 “indoor decorative” plant species with 932 cultivars displaying decorative form, leaves, flowers and fruits. Species comprising the genetic collection originate from diverse geographical zones of the world: from equatorial and tropical zones with a permanent moist climate (Anthurium, Begonia, Bougainvillea, Dieffenbachia, ferns, Monstera, orchids, Pandanus, Philodendron), from the tropical zone with periodically dry climate (Aloe, Bromeliads, Clerodendrum, Dracaena, Ficus lyrata, Sansevieria trifasciata), from tropical zone of savanah (Agapanthus, Chlorophytum, Clivia, Pelargonium, Plumbago, Strelitzia, Streptocarpus), from the subtropical zone of steppes (Cactus, Euphorbiaceae), from the subtropical zone (Anemone, Araucaria, Cyclamen, Cycas, Pittosporum) and from the temperate continental zone which includes Romania (Liliaceae, Aspidistra, Primula, azalea).
Objectives and results of research performed in the collection of decorative indoor plants refer to: biological requirements of each species, establishing methods for rapid multiplication, obtaining new cultivars with superior decorative properties, choice of optimum cropping substrate for each species; development of cropping technologies, plant architecture, physiological disturbance of plants, identification of plant pathogens, and development of integrated control strategies for diseases and pests of indoor decorative plants.

Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files)