An alternative method for medium-term in vitro conservation of different plant species through gibberellin inhibitors.

Medium-term in vitro plant conservation is an alternative for maintaining germplasm banks in breeding programs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the gibberellin inhibitors paclobutrazol (PBZ) and trinexapac-ethyl (TNE) for in vitro conservation by minimal growth in anthurium, sugarcane, and agave. For the establishment of the conservation system, shoots of the aforementioned species were taken at different concentrations (0, 1, 2, and 3 mg L−1) of PBZ and TNE. At 180 d of culture, the survival percentage, number of shoots, plant length, number of leaves, number of roots, root length, total chlorophyll content, stomatal density, and survival percentage during acclimatization were evaluated. According to the variables evaluated, the results showed that in anthurium 1 mg L−1 PBZ was the best treatment for in vitro conservation without affecting survival, while in sugarcane it was 1 mg L−1 PBZ and agave 3 mg L−1 PBZ or TNE. Survival during acclimatization was 97, 96, and 98% in anthurium, sugarcane, and agave, respectively. In this study, the gibberellin-inhibiting compounds PBZ and TNE are a low-cost alternative for in vitro conservation of anthurium, sugarcane, and agave and can be evaluated in other species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]