Notes on Aquarium Plant Production in Peruvian Amazonia

Abstract

Two Echinodorus species were produced in masses in Peruvian Amazonia for international aquarium plant trade from the 1950s to 1990s. In the beginning of this time pe- riod production was large-scale including field cultivation, but to the end of the period production faded rapidly. De- cline in production was a consequence of rapid develop- ment of aquarium plant cultivation in Asia, U.S.A. and Eu- rope. Nowadays aquarium plant production involves in vi- tro propagation and other highly sophisticated methods, and thus re-establishing large-scale aquarium plant pro- duction in Amazonian countries may not be economically viable. However, due to high biodiversity in Amazonia, the area may have a significant role in new aquarium cultivar prospecting.