Silver nitrate, light spectrum and gas exchange on in vitro flowering of Capsicum frutescens

Abstract

ABSTRACT The study aimed to evaluate the influence of silver nitrate on the in vitro flowering of Capsicum frutescens cv. Cayenne associated with different light spectra and gas exchange. After 36 days of germination in MS medium, two seedlings previously germinated, were subjected to experiments in glass flasks containing two types of culture medium: I) MS culture medium; or II) Culture medium with the addition of 40 µM of AgNO3. The explants were maintained in a growth room with a 16-hour photoperiod, temperature of 25 ± 2 °C, light intensity (72 μmol m-2 s-1) from different light spectra. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, 4 x 2 factorial scheme, with eight replicates, and the experimental unit composed of two seedlings. After 74 days of in vitro cultivation, the following parameters were evaluated: number of bifurcations, number of oxidized buds, number of open buds, number of green buds, number of aborted buds, number of leaves, root length, shoot length, total fresh and dry mass of shoots, and total fresh and dry mass of root. Thus, the combination of light spectrum, addition of gas exchange and AgNO3 favors the growth and development of Capsicum frutescens cv. Cayenne.

Keywords

• light-emitting diodes
• gas-permeable membranes
• spectral quality
• pepper production
• tissue culture