Tissue Culture for Conservation of Coastal Plant Species in the Baltic Sea Region: A Review of Protocols, Opportunities, and Challenges

Ex situ collections of rare and endangered plant species are crucial components of integrated conservation systems, as outlined in the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. Plant tissue culture collections play an essential role in achieving conservation objectives, as they offer a means of propagating plant material for habitat restoration and other practical applications. This study analyzes existing tissue culture protocols for coastal plant species of the Baltic Sea region, reviewing micropropagation research spanning 25 families and 112 highly coastal-specific species. The analysis of 232 experimental studies showed that tissue culture studies have been conducted with 38 coastal-specific species of the Baltic Sea region, which is only 34% of the initially identified target species. Special attention in the field of tissue culture technology development should be paid to several highly coastal-specific species with great potential for practical use, such as Blysmus rufus, Bolboschoenus maritimus, Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani, Halimione spp., Cochlearia spp., Euphrasia spp., and Odontites spp. Comprehensive research on tissue cultures of coastal plant species is imperative to establish micropropagation protocols for underrepresented taxonomic groups. The research should prioritize functional studies with ecological relevance and the development of practical biotechnological approaches for commercial applications.