Micropropagation enables the mass propagation and conservation of Dyckia distachya Hassler

Abstract

The Atlantic Forest has a rich biological diversity and elevated levels of endemism in which bromeliads are frequent, but endangered. Tissue culture techniques raise high hopes for the rescue, mass propagation for commercial aims or the conservation of natural populations threatened with extinction. The present study evaluated aspects of seed-based D. distachya micropropagation. A high rate of in vitro regeneration (78.93 shoot gram-1) was obtained in response to liquid MS culture medium supplemented with Benzylaminopurine 2 mM after 120 days in culture, or supplemented with Naphthaleneacetic acid 2 mM, BA 4 mM and Paclobutrazol 6 mM (133.58 shoots explant-1) after 142 days in culture. Not less than 1.5 cm long shoots were successfully acclimatized to ex vitro conditions. D. distachya is responsive to the application of tissue culture techniques for mass propagation and conservation purposes. The use of seeds as initial explants allows the maintenance of the genetic diversity observed in the natural populations and mass regeneration is a promising technique for the conservation of this endangered bromeliad.