Abstract
Plants that inhabit Antarctica have raised scientific interest due to their resilience to climate change, abiotic tolerance mechanisms and potential biological applications. In vitro propagation is useful for conservation, genetic material availability of these species and avoiding mass collection in their habitat. In vitro culture protocols for the native plants Colobanthus quitensis and Deschampsia antarctica and the non-native Juncus bufonius have been affected by endophytic microorganisms that proliferate when introduced to tissue cultures. This study evaluated the microbicidal and phytotoxic effect of calcium hypochlorite (Ca(ClO)2), silver nitrate (AgNO3) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), and their use at different concentrations for different time periods. The Ca(ClO)2 at 100 mg mL−1 showed the best microbial contamination control in D. antarctica (applied for 20 min) and for the three C. quitensis populations (applied for 15 min). In J. bufonius, AgNO3 at 10 mg mL−1 for 10 min reduced the microbial growth, but oxidative damage was generated. AgNPs did not prevent contamination or have adverse effects on tissues. Survival plantlets from each treatment, population or species were effectively introduced to the tissue culture and their propagation was successful. These results constitute a fundamental advance for the introduction, propagation and conservation of Antarctic species and their use in scientific research.
Highlights
Plants that inhabit Antarctica have raised scientific interest due to their resilience to climate change, abiotic tolerance mechanisms and potential biological applications
Responses to different disinfection treatments varied among the different populations of C. quitensis
Microbial growth occurred during the first week after disinfection treatment
Summary
Plants that inhabit Antarctica have raised scientific interest due to their resilience to climate change, abiotic tolerance mechanisms and potential biological applications. Survival plantlets from each treatment, population or species were effectively introduced to the tissue culture and their propagation was successful. These results constitute a fundamental advance for the introduction, propagation and conservation of Antarctic species and their use in scientific research. One method of conservation is through the use of germplasm banks, or facilities and centers created to conserve genetic resources under favorable conditions to prolong their survival; the final objective is the ex-situ conservation of specific genetic diversity They are a source of material that enables many possibilities for a species of interest, from developing new cultivable varieties, biological technologies, or to establishing ecological restoration plans[4]. Disinfectant Sodium hypochlorite 4.9 mg mL−1 Sodium hypochlorite 7.4 mg mL−1 Calcium hypochlorite 50 mg mL−1 Calcium hypochlorite 50 mg mL−1 Calcium hypochlorite 100 mg mL−1 Calcium hypochlorite 100 mg mL−1 Silver nitrate 5 mg mL−1 Silver nitrate 5 mg mL−1 Silver nitrate 10 mg mL−1 Silver nitrate 10 mg mL−1 Silver nanoparticles 0.1 mg mL−1 Silver nanoparticles 0.1 mg mL−1 Silver nanoparticles 0.2 mg mL−1 Silver nanoparticles 0.2 mg mL−1
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