Abstract
Abstract In vitro grown plants may have abnormal structural and physiological features. However, the type of the sealing material used in tissue culture may minimize such abnormalities. This study evaluates the influence of the type of sealing of test tubes on the anatomical and ultrastructural features of leaves of Aechemea bromeliifolia (Rudge) Baker (Bromeliaceae), an ornamental bromeliad native to Brazil, grown in vitro. Three types of sealing were used: rigid polypropylene cap (PC), polyvinyl chloride film (PVC), and PC coupled with a microporous membrane (PM). Seedlings germinated in a greenhouse were also studied for comparison. Plants grown in test tubes sealed with PM were more similar to those from the greenhouse, as far as the pattern of stomatal opening, the presence of starch grains, and the organization of the internal membrane system of the chloroplasts is concerned. Plants cultivated in test tubes sealed with PC had higher stomatal density and the chloroplasts had large areas without thylakoids in the stroma. Plants grown in test tubes sealed with PVC had few or no starch grains. These results suggest that microporous membrane used coupled with PC sealing provided natural ventilation, thus contributing to a better plant development.
Highlights
In vitro culture techniques are widely used for the propagation of many plant species, resulting in rapid multiplication and pathogen-free plants that are genetically identical to the original ones (Chen 2004)
Given that the in vitro culture conditions are closely related to plant growth and that the sealing material may improve plant development facilitating the acclimatization phase, we evaluate the effect of the type of test tube sealing on the morpho-anatomy and ultrastructure of leaves of Aechmea bromeliifolia (Rudge) Baker (Bromeliaceae) seedlings
The in vitro grown plants had longer aerial parts and a larger number of leaves compared to those cultivated in the greenhouse (Tab. 1)
Summary
In vitro culture techniques are widely used for the propagation of many plant species, resulting in rapid multiplication and pathogen-free plants that are genetically identical to the original ones (Chen 2004). The in vitro environment is characterized by dim light, high relative humidity, low CO2 concentration during the photoperiod, high ethylene concentration, and restricted air movement inside the culture vessel (Kozai & Smith 1995). Such features affect the anatomy and physiology of in vitro grown plants, resulting in absent or reduced cuticle, dysfunctional stomata, and poorly developed photosynthetic apparatus. The sealing material used for in vitro culture has significant influence on plant morphoanatomy, affecting its growth (Gonçalves et al 2008; Ribeiro et al 2009). Only a few studies Majada et al (2002), Lucchesini et al (2006) and Sáez et al (2012a) have evaluated the effect of the different types of sealingby using ventilated and non-ventilated vessels, on the ultrastructure of plants grown in vitro
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
