Arrow cane (Gynerium sagitatum Aubl.) in vitro rhizome formation and plantlet recovery

Abstract

Gynerium sagitatum Aubl. (Poaceae) is an important environmental, cultural and economic species for aboriginal communities in Northern Colombia, in which the centrale central nerve is used to make precious craftsmanship products. The massive use of the plant with no restoration has dangerously decreased natural populations. Micropropagation has emerged as a way to efficiently produce planting material for cropping and restoration of affected areas. To improve cost efficiency of the micropropagation protocol, in vitro rhizome structures were induced using in vitromaintained plants as explants under three quantities of sucrose, four of benzyl aminopurine - BAP and four of abscisic acid - ABA supplied in MS with (in mg L-1) myo-inositol (100), thiamine HCL (0.4), and solidified with Phytagel® (3.000). Treatments (48) were distributed using a complete randomized design with six replicates per treatment. Cultures were stored during eight weeks at 25 °C with 12 h photoperiod (40 μmol photons m-2 s-1) provided by with cold fluorescent lamps. Statistical differences were observed with respect to number of rhizomes and rhizome length as a result of three factor interaction. Ex vitro plantlet recovery occurred at highest percentage from rhizomes developed in media supplied with sucrose at 263000 µM combined with 4.44 and 8.88 µM BAP. Data evidenced the possibility of inducing in vitro rhizome growth from arrow cane explants to use them as a way for propagation and plant conservation.

Keywords

• arrow cane
• micropropagation
• in vitro
• rhizome formation
• pgr