Effect of Morphological and Physiological Development on the Acclimatization of in Vitro Plants of Bambusa vulgaris Schrad ex Wendl in Liquid Culture Medium

Abstract

Schrad. ex Wendl (B. vulgaris) is a species of great interest because it produces the most important non-timber forest products of worldwide. It has become an integral component in social forestry programs. This study aimed to determine the effect of morphological and physiological development on the acclimatization of in vitro plants of B. vulgaris. Morphological and physiological parameters of plants subjected to in vitro conditions were evaluated. Our results showed that the number shoots per explant of B. vulgaris increased when 6.0 M of 6-benzyladenine (BA) was incorporated into the culture medium. After six subcultures, clumps of 3 -6 axes were obtained, and their division in groups of three axes allowed multiplication of the plants. During the acclimatization phase to ex vitro conditions, the in vitro plants showed 75% survival. Results showed that greater development of the root system, height and number of leaves per plants was observed with height larger of 3.0 cm. The leaf area, water content, fresh and dry weight increased with height larger of 3.0 cm, but all parameters were decreased with height (1.0 -3.0 cm). The correlation between net assimilation rate and leaf area index was significantly positive in vitro plants with height larger of 3.0 cm. The increase of plants of B. vulgaris in liquid culture medium offers new prospects for increasing the commercial production of this species, and for studies that could elucidate morphological and physiological responses in plants of bamboo.