Estudos preliminares para micropropagação de Malus prunifolia cv. Marubakaido em sistema de imersão temporária

Abstract

The apple tree is a woody fruit widespread in the world. Your plants are propagated by cuttings and rootstocks by layering strain due to the high level of incompatibility between the genotypes and great period of juvenility. Rootstocks confer differences in vigor and disease resistance to scion, being more used in Brazil the cultivars M.9 (dwarf) and 'Marubakaido' (vigorous). Due to phytosanitary problems and yield of vegetative propagation technique, micropropagation appears as a useful technology at level of research or commercially. However, each apple genotype responds differently to in vitro stimuli, so the protocols must be adapted according to cultivar in study. Herewith, the present research aimed to draw the first studies about the use of temporary immersion system (TIS) in ‘Marubakaido's micropropagation. For this purpose, preliminary tests about the influence of the type of explant (apical or axillary) were performed via conventional system in three variations of the MS media (conventional composition; NH4NO3 and KNO3 reduced to ¾, and industrial formulation Himedia) supplemented with 0.8 mg.L-1 BAP, 100 mg L-1 myo-inositol, 30 g L-1 sucrose and 7 g L-1 agar. After 45 days it was observed that the Himedia conferred greater homogeneity among the shoots, while the type of explant did not affect the response in the average of number and length of shoots obtained, and both can be used without prejudice to the multiplication rates. Then, the same media were used in the comparison of micropropagation of ‘Marubakaido’ axillary explants between conventional system and TIS. After 4 weeks it was found that the hyperhydricity rates obtained with TIS were much higher than in conventional system, reaching 100% at MS medium. An intense callus formation was observed in MS and MS ¾ media at same system, which stopped the development of the explants. For the mean of number and length shoots, the Himedia composition in TIS showed better results when compared to all treatments for media and system (6.3 shoots per explant and 3.7 cm). Rooting of shoots produced in TIS with Himedia was higher when the shoots were separated compared with shoots kept in tufts (74.1% and 62.5% respectively), and acclimatization of the rooted microcutting resulted in 88.5% of survival after 21 days. Although the results have been promising, further studies still need to be performed to improve these protocols to ‘Marubakaido’, as changes in hormonal composition, time and frequency for passage of media to the explants or rooting under darkness.