Influence of physical state of culture media and different growth regulator combinations on axillary shoots formation in <i>Agave fourcroydes</i> Lem.

Abstract

The henequen (Agave fourcroydes Lem.) is a plant of a great economic and ecological value. The current technologies used for its micropropagation require a bigger efficiency, due to difficulties that take place, mainly during the multiplication phase. The objective of this work was to achieve the formation of axillary shoots with a reduction of the concentrations of growth regulators and a decrease in the number of hyperhydric shoots. Shoot tips of henequen established in vitro for 35 days were used to induce the formation of axillary shoots . The influence of different agar concentrations and the use of different combinations of plant growth regulators (IBA, TDZ and 6-BAP) were tested to 45 days. The highest efficient in the axillary shoot multiplication and minimal occurrence of hyperhydricity of the plants during the process were achieved in the culture medium with1.0 mg.l-1 of IBA, 1.0 mg.l-1 of 6-BAP, 0.5 mg.l-1 of TDZ and hardened with 8.0 g.l-1 of agar. Key words: cytokinin, henequen, hyperhydricity, organogenesis