Abstract

Anthuriums are among the most attractive ornamental plants; however, the commercial production of these plants is limited by the slow propagation methods presently in use. This situation can be resolved with the application of in vitro culture techniques which allow massive plant propagation through morphogenic processes. Plant growth regulators (PGR) and the composition of the basal media comprising the culture medium are among the factors influencing the induction of morphogenesis. Optical and electron microscopy analysis suggested that the morphogenic routes induced were organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis. This report presents three protocols of morphogenesis, two for adventitious shoot organogenesis and one via somatic embryogenesis. The treatments which induced adventitious shoot organogenesis were Murashige and Skoog medium at half ionic strength supplemented with 0.2 μM of thidiazuron (TDZ) and 2.2 μM of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP); 0.2 μM of TDZ and 6.6 μM of zeatin (ZEA); the treatment which induced somatic embryogenesis was 0.4 μM of TDZ and 0.5 μM of 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D).

Key words: Anthuriums andreanum, morphogenesis, thidiazuron, 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D), organogenesis, somatic embryogenesis, electron microscopy.