<i>In vitro</i> multiplication of <i>Neoregelia johannis</i> (Carriére) L. B. Smith in liquid medium under diferent concentrations of nutrients

Abstract

The importance of micropropagation to Bromeliaceae species is increasing, however few studies report the role of nutrition in in vitro multiplication. In order to correlate micropropagation morphophysiological aspects with regards to availability of nutrients, mainly nitrogen, Neoregelia johannis shoots were subcultured in the media culture MS, ½ MS and WPM, supplemented with the same concentrations of plant growth regulators. The multiplication rate was similar for all the culture media, with the highest multiplication rate, in addition to the highest accumulation of total and protein nitrogen, in the MS culture medium. Even producing the smallest shoots, the means of cultivation ½ MS and WPM represent a viable alternative for the maintenance of germplasm bank and for the maintenance of important genotypes in plant biofactories, considering that they present uniform results. The MS medium culture would be recommended for specific cases, when it is necessary to accelerate the multiplication and especially the growth of the shoots.