Articles
HELICONIA GROWN IN VITRO FROM ZYGOTIC EMBRYOS
Article number
953_43
Pages
313 – 318
Language
English
Abstract
Propagation of Heliconia from seeds is a slow and difficult process, due to the hard endocarp that encloses the seeds and hinders germination.
Seed propagation allows production of plants with genetic variability and may enable plant selection in a breeding program.
The goal of this research was to evaluate the possibility of obtaining seedlings from Heliconia bihai, H. wagneriana and H. chartaceae Sexy Scarlet with the aid of zygotic embryo cultures. Heliconia fruits were collected from four different clumps of each species and, in laboratory, were disinfected under aseptic conditions.
Fruit pulp was removed with a scalpel and forceps, and then embryos were removed from the seeds.
Twenty embryos of each genotype were selected to initiate embryo cultures.
The embryos were placed in a half-strength Murashige and Skoog medium, supplemented with 3% sucrose and 0.65% agar, and maintained in the dark for 8 days.
They were then transferred to light (16 h) at 25±2°C where they were cultured for 60 days.
The evaluated four half-siblings families of H. bihai, H. wagneriana and H. chartaceae exhibited differences in the process of zygotic embryogenesis.
In acclimatization, the survival rate was greater than 75%. The results demonstrated the potential of this technique in obtaining seedlings, which can be a starting material for breeding new cultivars.
Seed propagation allows production of plants with genetic variability and may enable plant selection in a breeding program.
The goal of this research was to evaluate the possibility of obtaining seedlings from Heliconia bihai, H. wagneriana and H. chartaceae Sexy Scarlet with the aid of zygotic embryo cultures. Heliconia fruits were collected from four different clumps of each species and, in laboratory, were disinfected under aseptic conditions.
Fruit pulp was removed with a scalpel and forceps, and then embryos were removed from the seeds.
Twenty embryos of each genotype were selected to initiate embryo cultures.
The embryos were placed in a half-strength Murashige and Skoog medium, supplemented with 3% sucrose and 0.65% agar, and maintained in the dark for 8 days.
They were then transferred to light (16 h) at 25±2°C where they were cultured for 60 days.
The evaluated four half-siblings families of H. bihai, H. wagneriana and H. chartaceae exhibited differences in the process of zygotic embryogenesis.
In acclimatization, the survival rate was greater than 75%. The results demonstrated the potential of this technique in obtaining seedlings, which can be a starting material for breeding new cultivars.
Publication
Authors
S. de S. Araújo, L. Willadino, C. Ulisses , V. Loges, F.L. Cuquel
Keywords
ornamental plant, floriculture, propagation, embryogenesis, breeding, in vitro recovery, embryo culture
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