In vitro storage under slow growth and ex vitro acclimatization of the ornamental bromeliad Acanthostachys strobilacea

•Plants of Acanthostachys strobilacea survived in vitro culture at low temperatures.•The best temperature to slow growth under in vitro conditions was 10 °C.•Acclimatization was successful after 30, 60, and 90 days of in vitro culture.

An in vitro short-term storage method for Acanthostachys strobilacea (Schult. f.) Link, Klotzsch & Otto plants and subsequent ex vitro acclimatization were examined. Seedlings were cultured in vitro at 20, 15, and 10 °C (low temperatures) and at 25 °C (control) for 30, 60, and 90 days. After each period, the plants were transferred to trays containing Pinus bark substrate and were maintained at 25 °C for 60 days. After 90 days of in vitro culture, the lowest biometric parameters mean values were found for the plants grown at 10 °C (approximately 4 times smaller than control). These plants were successfully acclimatized with 100% survival and rapid regrowth, while they exhibited a similar phenotype and chlorophyll content to the control treatment. The results showed that 10 °C is appropriate for the short-term storage of A. strobilacea plants when cultivated in vitro.