Ecological and Morphological Characteristics and in vitro Conservation of Ramonda serbica Panc in Kosovo

Ramonda serbica is a Balkan endemic and relict plant, included in the European list of rare plants. The aim of this study is to present the current natural condition and to elaborate the risk assessment for extinction, and in vitro conservation of R. serbica populations from Kosovo. We began a thorough exploration of the various habitats and ecological characteristics of R. serbica locations in the Sharri Mountains and Albanian Alps. The ecological responses of this species were more diverse than expected. We can explain the observed differences mostly as a response to the variations in the basic environmental conditions of the habitats. Almost all examined morphological characteristics, plant density and phenological traits were significantly different between the locations. In this case, locations with a small number of rosettes per m2 and a smaller regeneration were Radaci, The Rugova Canyon , Zhlebi Gorge , and The Sushica River Gorge , therefore, the risk for extinction is very high. According to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, the conservation status of R. serbica populations in Kosovo should be estimated as Vulnerable (VU), B1ab(iii)+B2ab(iii). For the first time in Kosovo our research group began the in vitro micropropagation and conservation of the rare plant R. serbica. During the micropropagation some differences, but not significant, for the number of shoots per plantlets were recorded for the plantlets originating from the different locations. After micropropagation, plantlets from the different locations of R. serbica were transferred for in vitro conservation and preserved for 8-12 months without transfers.