Abstract

Red Araçá’s (Psidium cattleianum) micropropagation processes have shown enormous potential both in terms of research and as a sustainable native resource to be used in the areas of food production, ecology, and pharmacology. Currently, however, despite that potential, research efforts involving this myrtaceae, native to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, have been scarce. With that in mind, this study set out to establish micropropagation techniques that would allow the development of a feasible protocol to be used with Red Araçá, achieving its mircropropagation from in vitro germinated seeds. Different types of explants were tested for in vitro establishment. For the multiplication of nodal segments, different concentrations of BAP and IAA combinations were tested in an MS medium. Using the same medium, different concentrations of ampicillin were applied in order to determine its influence on the decontamination of the apical segments. The BAP and IAA combinations were also used to test their effects on the in vitro explants’ development and rooting. During pre-acclimatization, survival of in vitro rooted plants was tested in a nebulizer chamber, using a commercial substrate and that same substrate mixed with washed sand (1:1). In essence, it was indeed possible to develop a complete protocol for the micropropagation of the Red Araçá from seedlings obtained by in vitro germination. The in vitro introduction of the Red Araçá was rather efficient, independently of the type of explants used. As the BAP and IAA concentrations increased, so did the in vitro seedlings’ development (7 leaves explant^-1) and rooting (67%). Additionally, the in vitro rooted plants exhibited a high rate of survival (80%) in the pre-acclimatization phase, independently of the substrate used.

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