In vitro establishment of Handroanthus heptaphyllus nodal segments

Abstract

Micropropagation could be used as a viable alternative in the mass production of Handroanthus heptaphyllus (Vell.) Mattos (white lapacho). The objective of the present work was to establish in vitro of nodal segments of H. heptaphyllus. The nodal segments were taken from young plants kept in nurseries to which preventive treatments with fungicides were applied. The explants were disinfected with Sodium Hypochlorite (NaClO) which was tested at 5 or 10% for 5 min. Subsequently, it were placed in Murashige and Skoog culture medium. Live, contaminated or necrotic explants were quantified weekly until 35 days of culture. The results demonstrated the presence of microbial contaminants in the explants subjected to the two treatments. The incidence in the explants disinfected with 10% NaOCl did not exceed 45%, while with 5% it reached 70%. However, with the highest concentration there were losses of 35% due to necrosis of the explants and a survival of 20%. The use of nodal segments of young plants of white H. heptaphylus allows its in vitro establishment as a first step for the micropropagation of this species.

Keywords

• disinfection
• explants
• lapacho of white flowers
• micropropagation
• sodium hypochlorite