Abstract

BORGES GARCIA, Misterbino; MALAURIE, Bernard; PORTALES VILTRES, Susana  and  CALZADILLAS CAMPOS, Dayneri. The effect of different sucrose concentrations on coconut (Cocos nuciferas L.) in vitro conservation. Rev. colomb. biotecnol [online]. 2008, vol.10, n.2, pp.111-119. ISSN 0123-3475.

Cuban coconut germplasm is traditionally maintained in in situ collections; such conservation leads to high maintenance costs and genetic erosion risks, mainly due to plant material becoming exposed to pest and disease attack and that of natural disasters. The present research evaluated the effect of different sucrose concentrations on in vitro coconut zygotic embryo culture media for conserving this species’ genetic resources. Eeuwens medium was used, containing added 20, 40, 60 and 80 g/l^-1 sucrose. Germination percentage was evaluated after six months’ cultivation and the following variables after 18 months’ cultivation: survival and rooting percentages, the number of leaves, shoot length and the thickness of the plantlets maintained in vitro. A totally randomised experimental design was used; one-way variance analysis and Tukey multiple means comparison tests were applied to the data. The results demonstrated that 60 g/l^-1 sucrose in Eeuwens medium was the most appropriate for zygotic embryo coconut (Cocos nucifera L) conservation in in vitro conditions, where plantlets showed the highest survival percentages and the most vigorous growth at 18 months of in vitro culture.

Keywords : Genetic resources; plant tissue culture; zygotic embryo.

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