Articles
Photoautotrophic micropropagation in maqui (Aristotelia chilensis)
Article number
1454_19
Pages
139 – 146
Language
English
Abstract
An efficient propagation method is needed for recently domesticated maqui cultivars to supply the increasing demand for high-yielding plants to establish commercial orchards.
While the first selected clones were obtained by rooted cuttings, in vitro propagation seeks to increase the multiplication rate and provide healthy plant material under optimal conditions for ex vitro adaptation.
The present study aimed to optimize the micropropagation and subsequent acclimatization of Aristotelia chilensis by growing explants of the cultivar ‘Luna Nueva’ in different media: Woody Plant Medium (WPM) supplemented with or without sucrose for mixotrophic or photoautotrophic conditions, respectively, or in a porous substrate (peat and perlite) for photoautotrophic condition.
Additionally, explants were exposed in a split-block design to natural or enriched CO2 conditions (±400 or 1500 ppm, respectively). The entire trial was repeated in time.
Photoautotrophic plants grown in the substrate peat-perlite showed better development of explants, roots, and leaf area as well as a greater chlorophyll content (DUALEX index) than those grown in WPM, while the flavonol and anthocyanin indices, which are generally associated with stress adaptation, were lower.
On the other hand, mixotrophic explants had significantly more leaves and nodes.
The length and weight of explants grown in a CO2-enriched atmosphere were significantly greater than those obtained at natural CO2 concentrations.
The physiological response to acclimatization was evaluated by chlorophyll, flavonol, and anthocyanin indices before and after 20 days of exposure to ex vitro conditions.
Overall, the photoautotrophic plants grown in the porous substrate peat-perlite produced the best quality of micropropagated maqui plants, including the best response to acclimatization.
While the first selected clones were obtained by rooted cuttings, in vitro propagation seeks to increase the multiplication rate and provide healthy plant material under optimal conditions for ex vitro adaptation.
The present study aimed to optimize the micropropagation and subsequent acclimatization of Aristotelia chilensis by growing explants of the cultivar ‘Luna Nueva’ in different media: Woody Plant Medium (WPM) supplemented with or without sucrose for mixotrophic or photoautotrophic conditions, respectively, or in a porous substrate (peat and perlite) for photoautotrophic condition.
Additionally, explants were exposed in a split-block design to natural or enriched CO2 conditions (±400 or 1500 ppm, respectively). The entire trial was repeated in time.
Photoautotrophic plants grown in the substrate peat-perlite showed better development of explants, roots, and leaf area as well as a greater chlorophyll content (DUALEX index) than those grown in WPM, while the flavonol and anthocyanin indices, which are generally associated with stress adaptation, were lower.
On the other hand, mixotrophic explants had significantly more leaves and nodes.
The length and weight of explants grown in a CO2-enriched atmosphere were significantly greater than those obtained at natural CO2 concentrations.
The physiological response to acclimatization was evaluated by chlorophyll, flavonol, and anthocyanin indices before and after 20 days of exposure to ex vitro conditions.
Overall, the photoautotrophic plants grown in the porous substrate peat-perlite produced the best quality of micropropagated maqui plants, including the best response to acclimatization.
Authors
H. Vogel, D. Bascuñán, V. Muñoz, B. González
Keywords
CO2 concentration, mixotrophic micropropagation, chlorophyll index, flavonol index, anthocyanin index
Groups involved
- Division Plant Genetic Resources, Breeding and Biotechnology
- Working Group Genetic Transformation and Gene Editing
- Working Group Horticultural Biotechnology and Breeding
- Division Ornamental Plants
- Division Vegetables, Roots and Tubers
- Division Temperate Tree Fruits
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits
- Division Horticulture for Development
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