REGENERATION OF AGAVE (Agave angustifolia HAW.) FROM ENCAPSULATED SOMATIC EMBRYOS
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Abstract
As a strategy for propagation and conservation, somatic embryos (SE) of Agave angustifolia Haw. were obtained from zygotic embryonic axis (EEC), using the Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium to 25 % of its concentration, supplemented with L2 vitamins, 13.57 μmol of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 4.4 μmol of 6 benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 60 gL-1 sucrose. Each SE was encapsulated in a matrix of sodium alginate in a complex of calcium dichloride to produce synthetic seeds (SS). To determine the effect on germination percentage and immersion time (IT), three concentrations of sodium alginate (3, 4 and 5 %) immersed in time intervals of 15 and 30 min in calcium dichloride, and two concentrations of MS medium salts (50 and 100 %) supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) (0.0, 4.4 and 8.8 μmol), were tested. The consistency of the alginate matrix on germination percentage and SS survival were also evaluated. Full germination and plantlet survival were observed when synthetic seeds were encapsulated with 3 % sodium alginate in complex with calcium dichloride, supplemented with 4.4 μmol BAP at 15 or 30 min as IT in calcium dichloride.