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Herbivory in plant reproductive tissues can severely reduce the fitness of the species, especially for those threatened with extinction. We investigated aspects of the reproductive ecology of Neoregelia ibitipocensis (Leme) Leme, an endangered species restricted to a few cloud forests sites in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Data on breeding systems, fertility, and viability of its populations are provided, as well as alternatives for development of strategies for ex situ conservation. Hand pollination experiments revealed that N. ibitipocensis is partially self-incompatible. Fruit and seeds were affected by intense herbivory caused by Tipulidae (Diptera) larvae. The predation reached 100% of the analysed infructescences during the first year of the study. We observed the production of parthenocarpic fruit both through controlled pollination experiments and under natural conditions. The potential for self-pollination and autogamy probably compensate for the reduced ability of the species to attract pollinators due to its small floral display. In the same way, parthenocarpy seems to represent a strategy to enhance the fitness of N. ibitipocensis, mitigating the effects of the predation. We developed an efficient protocol of in vitro multiplication, which represents a viable alternative for ex situ conservation of the species.

This work aimed to develop a protocol for the in vitro establishment, multiplication, rooting and ex vitro acclimatization of Mimosa pudica L., a species used in folk medicine and with pharmacological activity. Aseptic cultures were established from seeds inoculated in MS medium, without growth regulators, followed by an in vitro stabilization phase in culture medium supplemented with 2.22 μM BAP. The cultures were transferred to MS medium supplemented with different cytokinins, combined or not with an auxin, aiming its large-scale propagation. The culture medium supplemented with 5 µM BAP plus 0.5 µM NAA provided the highest multiplication rate and top quality plantlets. The combination of 0.6 µM TDZ plus 0.05 µM NAA resulted in higher multiplication rates than in response to combination of BAP plus NAA, although the subsequent maintenance of the cultures in a medium without growth regulators has resulted in low regenerative response. In vitro rooting of micro-cuttings was high even in the absence of auxins. Over 90% of plantlets transferred to the greenhouse survived after the acclimatization phase. Acclimatized plants presented normal vegetative and reproductive development. The procedures established in the present study allow a massive production of M. pudica plants for further pharmacological studies. Key words: Biodiversity conservation, ex vitro acclimatization, in vitro rooting, micropropagation, Mimosa pudica.