<i> In vitro </i> <b>establishment of <i>Heliconia rostrata </i>Ruiz &amp; Pavón and <i>Heliconia wagnerina </i>Petersen </b>

Abstract

The heliconia have wide appeal as ornamental plants and their environmental significance. The species Heliconia rostrata and H. wagneriana are planted in the Botanical Garden of Cienfuegos, Cuba. The aim of this study was to in vitro establish explants of these species to initiate propagation through biotechnological methods. Rhizomes were used as initial explants and were disinfected with sodium hypochlorite. In H. rostrata two concentrations of sodium hypochlorite (v/v) (2% and 5%) were tested for 5 and 10 min. In H. wagneriana two concentrations were tested (3% and 5%) for 15 and 25 min. The numbers of explants contaminated with microorganisms, the number of live explants and sprouted were quantified. Microbial contamination losses affected the explants survival. With the use of 5% sodium hypochlorite better results was obtained. Through the use of these procedures it was possible the in vitro establishment of both species of heliconia. Key words: micropropagation, rhizomes, Zingiberales