Abstract
In vitro cultures of peach palm ( Bactris gasipaes Kunth) were established by somatic embryogenesis but some improvements in maturation and conversion steps are still needed. The aim of this study was to analyze morpho-anatomical differences in peach palm leaves from greenhouse cultured plants, in vitro plants developed from in vitro germinated seeds and somatic embryo-derived plants . Expanded leaves were prepared for histological analyses and scanning electron microscopy. No significant difference was found between ex vitro and in vitro cultured plants, but the somatic embryo-derived plants showed structural alterations of the leaves. The epidermal cells were elongated in shape, the mesophyll cells were thicker and the vascular bundle was not very developed. In somatic embryo-derived leaves the cuticle was thinner than in other leaves and epicuticular wax was present but poorly deposited. In in vitro cultured plants, the deposition of epicuticular wax on the leaves was irregular while in the greenhouse plants it was regular and abundant. These alterations in somatic embryo-derived leaves could hinder the acclimatization and development of peach palm plants so it is necessary to improve the protocol for somatic embryogenesis to produce better plants.
Highlights
The in vitro growth conditions are very different from greenhouse or field conditions, complicating the adaption of in vitro grown plants to the greenhouse
The cultures were kept for 12 weeks at 25±2°C under cool-white fluorescent tubes with a photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of 20 μmol m-2 s-1 and a 16 hours photoperiod
The heterotrophic status of the plants, the high relative humidity and the low light intensity are the main factors that favor the induction of alterations of in vitro cultured plants, when compared to ex vitro conditions (Barry-Etienne, Bertrand, Vasquez, & Ettiene, 2002)
Summary
The in vitro growth conditions are very different from greenhouse or field conditions, complicating the adaption of in vitro grown plants to the greenhouse. These conditions, such as low light irradiance and high humidity as well as culture medium composition, could determine the formation of morphologically, anatomically and physiologically abnormal plants (Hazarika, 2006; Pospísilová, Kadlecek, Haisel, & Plzáková, 1999). Clonal propagation success is achieved when a large number of true-to-type plants are obtained on a large scale and at a low cost, with a high survival rate in field conditions.
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