Hydroponics and Natural Biostimulants Accelerate Candelilla Propagation for Arid-Zone Restoration

Hidroponía y bioestimulantes en propagación de candelilla

Abstract

This study evaluated an innovative protocol for the accelerated vegetative propagation of Euphorbia antisyphilitica (candelilla), an endemic shrub threatened by unsustainable harvesting in Mexico’s arid regions. Three propagation systems were compared, combining hydroponics, nursery, and open-field approaches with natural biostimulants and conventional rooting agents. Hydroponics with a natural biostimulant blend of Rosmarinus officinalis, Lens culinaris and Cinnamomum zeylanicum extracts yielded the fastest and most vigorous rooting, achieving functional root systems within four weeks, a reduction of over 90% compared to traditional timelines. Survival exceeded 99%, demonstrating the reliability of this approach. In contrast, indolebutyric acid proved ineffective in hydroponics due to its instability in aqueous media. Nursery propagation highlighted the importance of substrate selection, with native mountain soil outperforming commercial and agricultural substrates, likely due to its favorable pH and natural mycorrhizal associations. Overall, the integration of hydroponics and natural biostimulants provided the most sustainable and reproducible protocol, offering significant advantages for ecological restoration, ex situ conservation, and community-based management of arid ecosystems. These results establish a scientific foundation for scaling up vegetative propagation of candelilla and similar species, reducing dependence on wild populations while promoting restoration in degraded arid landscapes.