Abstract

SALAS-CRUZ, Lidia Rosaura et al. Cacti in vitro germination by using zeolite as alternative substrate. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agríc [online]. 2011, vol.2, n.spe3, pp.565-575. ISSN 2007-0934.

By using zeolite as an alternative substrate, in vitro germination of six cacti species was evaluated. In vitro seeding was performed for: Astrophytum capricorne A. Dietr. Britton & Rose, A. myriostigma Lem., Echinocereus reichenbachii Terscheck ex Walp. Haage, Escobaria dasyacantha Engelm Britton & Rose, Mammillaria prolifera Mill Haw. and Sclerocactus scheeri Salm-Dyck N. P. Taylor. In order to do this, three particle sizes of zeolite were applied: thin (from 0.71 to 1 mm), medium (from 1.1 to 2 mm) and coarse (2.1 to 3.36 mm of calibration). A total of nine treatments were applied to zeolite's structures of the following granulometric sizes: fine, medium and coarse + distilled water (treatments 1, 2 and 3), three types of zeolites + Murashige and Skoog (MS) (treatment 4, 5 and 6) treatment 7 agar + MS + sucrose, treatment 8, agar + MS; and treatment 9 agar. The germination index evaluation results were statistically analyzed identifying highly significant differences for the variables percentage (F= 7.036, p< 0.01), speed (7.767, p< 0.01) and germination index (4.298, p< 0.01). The highest germination values were obtained with agar + MS treatment. The species with the highest germination response was E. dasyacantha (92.6%), followed by A. myriostigma (54.07%). This protocol calls for the convenience of using zeolites as a replacement for agar substrate, thus promoting the cacti in vitro conservation, taking advantage of such profitable substrate because of its abundance and easy acquisition.

Keywords : Agar; cacti; in vitro germination; natural zeolite.

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