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Propagation
Techniques for
Cyclamen persicum
By: Petra Guenthner-Johnson
(PLSC 368, Fall 2005, Dr. Chiwon Lee)
ABSTRACT
The potted Cyclamen persicum, commonly known as ‘Florist’s Cyclamen’, has become a
popular indoor blooming plant. The cyclamen plant can be a rewarding addition to any
houseplant enthusiast's collection. The following paper highlights methods for its propagation by
seed, division and in vitro somatic embryogenesis.
INTRODUCTION
The cyclamen plants we see in stores today are intraspecific hybrids of Cyclamen persicum, commonly known as
‘Florist’s cyclamen’. Florist’s cyclamen comes in many different
forms, from large to mini cultivars showing blooms of red, purple,
pink or white and even ruffled cultivars. The potted indoor
blooms we are familiar with are F1 hybrid seed strains
originally bred in the mid-nineteenth century using selection
and back-crossing (www.cyclamen.org).
Traditionally Cyclamen persicum hybrids have been
propagated sexually for commercial and private use. Gardeners
in USDA hardiness zones 5a and above can use seed to produce
cyclamen for their perennial gardens. But, with the rising
popularity of cyclamen as houseplants inbred depression,
inhomogeneity in some cultivars, and the high costs of manual labor involved in seed production
have become concerns for commercial cyclamen growers (Winklemann et al. 2004).
Vegetative propagation of Cyclamen persicum is more difficult than with many
houseplants. There has been little success with using stem cuttings, and although propagation by
division is possible Cyclamen persicum tubers have few growing points, this makes mass
propagation by division impractical.
METHODS OF PROPAGATION
Seed Propagation
There are many different suggestions for growing cyclamen from seed; the following are
the summarized suggestions from the Cyclamen Society website:
 The Cyclamen persicum produces seed in mature blooms that have been fertilized. You can
recognize a seed-producing stem because the stem does not wilt after the bloom has faded.
Gather the seed from the capsule just before it splits open, the seed should be a light brown color.
 Soak the seed in warm water with a drip of detergent for 24 hours.
 Sow the seed in containers that are approximately 6 inches deep, transplanting
recommended until after the second growing season. The seed can be planted
about ¾ inch apart and about ¼ inch deep.
 Cyclamen seeds should be germinated in the dark in temperatures of 5560°F.
To enhance uniformity and vigor of seedlings commercial growers
often soak cyclamen seed in 500-1000ppm solution GA-3 for 24-48 hrs.
Micropropagation
Within the last 10-15 years researchers have been working on methods for propagating
Cyclamen persicum in vitro. Micropropagation of cyclamen plants allows growers to produce
clones of the mother plants, thus avoiding problems with inbred depression and inhomogeneity.
Large scale production the somatic embryos of Cyclamen persicum is still being
researched. A 1995 study outlines the process for developing somatic embryos in a liquid
medium. In brief summary, cyclamen tubers forming on 5 week old seedling plants were used as
explant material to proliferate ‘pro-embryogenic masses’ or PEMs (formed from the central pith,
vascular bundles and pericycle tissue of the tuber), these were developed into somatic embryos,
and finally into complete plants (Kreuger et al. 1995)
FUTURE WORK NEEDED
There are still problems with using somatic embryos to produce clonally propagated
cyclamen plants. Somatic embryos lack the seed coat and endosperm that allow zygotic embryos
to survive in poor environmental conditions. This means that embryos produced by tissue culture
methods cannot be stored long. Researchers are currently considering the benefits of
cryopreservation and osmotic coats in prolonging the embryo’s useful life.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS CONTACT ME AT [email protected]
LITERATURE CITED
Kreuger, M., Postma, E., Brouwer, Y., and Holst, G.J. (1995) Somatic embryogenesis of
Cyclamen persicum in liquid medium. Physiologia Plantarum, 94, 605-612.
Winkelmann, T., Meyer, L., and Serek, M. (2004) Desiccation of somatic embryos of Cyclamen
Persicum Mill. Journal of Horicultural Science & Biotechnology, 79, 479-483.
Winkelmann, T., Meyer, L., and Serek, M. (2004) Germination of encapsulated somatic embryos
of Cyclamen persicum. HortScience, 39(5), 1093-1097.
Winkelmann, T., Mussmann, V., and Serek, M. (2004) Cyropreservaton of embryogenic
suspension cultures of Cylamen persicum Mill. Plant Cell Reports, 23, 1-8.
WEBSITE REFERENCES
The Cyclamen Society
www.cyclamen.org
Photos courtesy of
www.webshots.com