The biological features of the recently described peculiar and rare pottioid moss species Pterygoneurum sibiricum have been studied. A conservation physiology approach through in vitro axenic establishment and laboratory-controlled tests was applied to learn more about its development, physiology, and ecology. Additionally, ex situ collection for this species was established, and a micropropagation methodology was developed. The results obtained clearly document its reaction to salt stress in contrast to its sibling bryo-halophyte species P. kozlovii. The reaction to exogenously applied plant growth regulators, auxin and cytokinin, can be used in the different moss propagation phases of this species or for target structure production and development. Inference to the poorly known ecology of this species should also help in recent species records, and thus improve knowledge about its distribution and conservation.

Bryophytes represent the second largest group of land plants and play key ecological roles in colonisation, water regulation, and habitat formation. In addition to their ecological significance, they are also a rich source of biologically active compounds with potential applications in medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology. However, bryophytes remain challenging to cultivate under controlled, particularly axenic conditions, due to their slow growth, strict ecological requirements, and the limited knowledge of their nutritional and reproductive biology, particularly in less common species. As a result, only a small fraction of species have been successfully maintained in axenic culture, and information on cultivation methods is scattered and often overlooked. To bridge this gap, we conducted an in-depth survey of the published literature on axenically cultivated bryophytes, compiled a comprehensive check?list with references to the original sources, and highlighted emerging model species. This checklist and literature database provide a valuable resource by consolidating dispersed knowledge, serving both as a foundation for future studies in bryophyte biology and conservation and as a platform to expand their biotechnological potential.

This study investigates the growth and micropropagation of the rare moss Podperaea krylovii, under in vitro conditions. The effects of different growth media, plant growth regulators, and sugars were tested to optimize conditions for efficient propagation and to gain a better understanding of the species’ biology and the cultivation requirements of this species. The results indicate that the KNOP medium is most effective for the propagation of P. krylovii, with prostrate-oriented explants having a higher index of multiplication compared to upright-oriented explants. The addition of auxin had no significant effect on species multiplication and development in comparison to auxin-free media. Conversely, cytokinin inhibited shoot formation as well as protonemal development, suggesting that its use individually was not suitable for the species’ development under axenic conditions. The sugars tested showed no positive effect on new shoot formation, suggesting that no exogenous carbon source is required and that this species keeps autotrophy in axenic cultures. These results provide a basis for future research on the propagation and cultivation of P. krylovii and emphasize the need for specific cultivation protocols. The in vitro multiplicated moss was successfully acclimatised and propagated ex vitro in a xenic environment. This enables further successful ex situ conservation of the species as well as commercial use as aquatic plants, for example in aquaria.

The rare and threatened moss Campyliadelphus elodes (Amblysetgiaceae), whose population is in decline in Europe, was the subject of studies investigating its biological characteristics so as to establish a captive culture and an ex situ population. Herbarium material from Hungary was used to establish propagation from the vegetative parts under axenic laboratory conditions. Growth optimisation was tested by selecting the most suitable growth medium and evaluating the effects of plant growth regulators on rapid propagation and multiplication. The KNOP medium proved to be the most effective for the rapid propagation of the species when grown at a temperature of 18 ? 2?C, with 60-70% humidity, and a long-day photoperiod (16 h light/8 h dark cycle). The tested concentrations of auxin and cytokinin did not significantly improve the development and multiplication of C. elodes. Subsequently, the laboratorycultivated material was used to establish an ex situ population at the Belgrade Botanical Garden, thus contributing to the species? sustainable preservation.

The rare and threatened pleurocarpous semi-aquatic moss Drepanocladus sendtneri (Amblystegiaceae) was the focus of an integrative conservation approach aimed at improving knowledge of its biological and ecological characteristics and enhancing its survival prospects. The results provide insights into both the axenic and xenic propagation of this species, as well as its biomass production under ex situ conditions. The KNOP medium proved to be the most suitable for propagation, particularly when demeristemized shoot tips were cultured in an upright orientation. Exogenous application of IBA increased the production of new shoots and reduced the time required to obtain substantial biomass under axenic conditions. Following successful acclimatisation to controlled xenic laboratory conditions, the moss was able to fully develop and spread in experimental basins maintained under outdoor botanical garden conditions, with humidity carefully regulated during dry periods. Within one year, a small number of initial plantlets expanded to cover approximately 4 dm², spreading efficiently over rainwater-soaked filter paper covered with an inert plastic mesh. These results provide practical guidance for the production and ex situ maintenance of D. sendtneri, thereby supporting the development and improvement of conservation action plans for this rare and threatened moss species.