In vitro establishment and early development of barueiro (Dipteryx alata Vogel)

Abstract

The barueiro (Dipteryx alata Vog.) is a native fruit species of the Cerrado ecoregion that has multiple uses. It is a wild species, and its cultivation is difficult. Furthermore, it is threatened with extinction. Plant tissue culture is a major tool for the conservation of germplasm, as well as a means of propagating high-quality seedlings on a large scale. However, this technique has not been used with barueiro, although it might provide valuable contributions to the process of barueiro domestication. The most popular method of cultivation is the use of the Murashige and Skoog medium (MS), which is considered one of the most nutritionally complete media. Woody plant medium (WPM) is indicated for the propagation of woody species, but there are no reports of its use for barueiro cultivation. Woody plants tend to have problems with rust in vitro during the establishment phase. Activated charcoal acts as an adjuvant for the adsorption of phenolic compounds, mitigating its effects in the medium. Thus, the objective of this study was to test four activated charcoal doses (0, 2, 4 and 6 g L-1) and three culture media: MS, WPM, and AA (over water agar) in the in vitro establishment of barueiro. The experimental design was a completely randomised (DIC), 4 × 3 factorial design with three replications. At 60 days after inoculation, the explants were evaluated for dry matter, fresh weight, stem diameter, shoot length, number of leaves, longest root length, germination rate, and chlorophyll contents. The MS medium supplemented with 3,0 g L-1 activated charcoal appeared to be the best for in vitro establishment of barueiro.