Effect of <i>Stevia rebaudiana</i> based sweetener on <i>Cuitlauzina pendula in vitro</i> culture

Abstract

In vitro culture is an alternative for the conservation of endangered orchids (Orchidaceae). The objective of this work was to determine the effect of a Stevia. rebaudiana sweetener based on the development of seedlings and pseudobulbs formation in Cuitlauzina pendula. The seeds were germinated in MS culture medium without growth regulators. The seedlings obtained were subcultured in an MS culture medium with 100% salts, 1 g l-1 activated charcoal and 0.5 ml 6-benzylaminopurine and different concentrations of the sweetener CANDEREL® stevia (5.10, 15, 20, 25 g l-1). A control containing sucrose (25 g l-1) was used as the carbon source. The height of the seedlings (cm) was measured and the presence of pseudobulbs was observed in each treatment. The presence of the sweetener in the culture medium of 5 to 25 g l-1 had no influence on the height of the seedlings. Seedlings cultured with sweetener and control with sucrose developed pseudobulbs in vitro but concentrations higher than 5 g l-1 favored the formation of these structures with respect to the control. The sweetener CANDEREL® stevia can be used as an alternative carbon source in the in vitro culture of Cuitlauzina pendula as it does not affect the height of the plants and favors the pseudobulbs formation. This is the first report where a stevia product is used as the carbon source in the in vitro culture of orchids. Keywords: carbohidrate,orchid, pseudobubls