Micropropagation of Syngonium podophyllum


Farmers who search for large scale and quality seedlings, have difficulty in propagating Syngonium podophyllum Schott (Araceae) at field due to plant health problems. Therefore, lateral buds of S. podophyllum leaf axils were used to micropropagate this ornamental species. At establishment stage, they were submitted to two disinfection procedures and further by inoculated in MS medium with and/or without the addition of 3-indolacetic acid (IAA) and 6-benzilaminopurine (BAP) growth regulators. At development stage, the explants were submitted to different BAP concentrations added to MS medium. The buds obtained were transferred to flasks containing MS for plant development. The exposition of lateral axilary buds to a primary asepsis in laboratory followed by a secondary asepsis in laminar flow bench, proved to be more efficient in disinfecting the explants, with 100% survival rate. The addition of growth regulators, IAA and BAP both at 1.0 mg.L-1, in MS medium, has promoted greater seedling growth during in vitro plant development. The use of high BAP concentrations in the proliferation mean did not induce a significant increase in average bud number per explant; however, it resulted in significant decrease in the average number of leaves and roots. When explants originated from the proliferation treatment with 1.0 mg.L-1 of BAP were cultivated in MS with no growth regulator, greater seedling development was observed.