Ocimum basilicum'red rubin' is highly valued for its essential oil, and is widely used in folk medicine, but few studies examining in vitro propagation techniques for this basil variety are available. We examined the development of red rubin basil seedlings grown in vitro in different concentrations of mineral salts, charcoal combined with sucrose, and potassium iodine in three series of tests. In the first series, five concentrations (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%) of Murashige and Skoog salts (MS culture medium) were used to germinate sterilized seeds of O. basilicum. In the second test, to evaluate the combined effects of charcoal and sucrose on basil growth, three concentrations of charcoal (0, 3.0, and 4.5 g/L) and two of sucrose (30 and 60 g/L) were used. In the third test, the seeds were sown onto culture medium enriched with five different concentrations of potassium iodine (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100µM); 0.5 μM benzyl aminopurine (BAP) and 1.0 μM naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) were added to all germination media. A completely randomized experimental design was used in all tests, with five replicates, four vials per test, and 4 seeds per vial. In Test 2, seedling oxidation (%) and the numbers of leaves and shoots were submitted to non-parametric analysis using the Kruskal Wallis test (p ≤0.05). The other data were submitted to analysis of variance (p≤0.05). The qualitative means were evaluated by the Tukey test (p≤0.05), and the quantitative means by polynomial regression (p≤0.05). The results showed that 100% MS culture medium was most indicated for 'red rubin' seed germination and aerial portion production, while 70-80% MS was indicated for root production. A sucrose level of 30 g/L (standard) combined with 4.5 g/L of activated charcoal allowed the best seedlings development and inhibited callus formation. Activated charcoal limited copper and zinc uptake by O. basilicum seedlings, but not enough to hamper their development. Increasing concentrations of potassium iodine reduced all of the growth variables analyzed in this basil variety.Keywords: Ocimum basilicum L., micropropagation, medicinal plant, culture medium. Abbreviation: AC_ activated charcoal, APL_ aerial portion length, BAP_ benzylaminopurine, Cu_ Copper; CSD1 and CSD2_ gene families in Arabidopsis, DMAP_ dry mass of the aerial portion, DMRC_ dry mass of the root or of the root + callus portion, FMAP_ fresh masses of the aerial portions, FMRC_ fresh masses of the root, KI_ potassium iodide, miRNAs_ micro RNAs, MS_ Murashige and Skoog, NAA_ naphthalene acetic acid, NC-presence of callus, NL_ number of leaves, NS_ numbers of shoots, OX_ oxidized plants, PVP_polyvinyl pyrrolidone, RL_ root, SISVAR_ statistical analysis system, SOD_ superoxide dismutase, Zn_ Zinc.

Genovese basil has great economic potential; however, there is no established micropropagation protocol for this species. Therefore, this study aimed at assessing the in vitro growth of Genovese basil in response to different concentrations of salts in the Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) and interaction of sucrose and activated carbon. Two assays were conducted independently in an in vitro environment using the MS medium, regulators, agar, and five salt concentrations (0, 25, 50, 70 and 100%). In the second assay, two concentrations of sucrose (30 and 60 g L ) were tested.In addition, copper and zinc were quantified in the roots. The results showed that shoots were favored when the medium was at its full strength (100% salts), with seedlings forming more leaves.This result may be associated with a higher demand for nitrogen and because of the ionic balance between NH 4 + and NO 3 -. High concentrations of salts affected the roots, but a reduction to 70% salt favored root development. Doubling the usual dose of sucrose (60 g L -1 ) damaged the growth of the seedlings. Damage caused by osmotic and oxidative potentials, and by toxic compounds may be related to the observed results. The amount of copper and zinc in the root increased with increased concentrations of activated carbon in the medium. The presence of activated carbon reduced callus formation but did not mitigate the effects of increased sucrose concentration.

Curcuma longa L., from the Zingiberaceae family, generally reproduces through its rhizomes, which are also utilized for therapeutic purposes because they are rich in terpenoids. Its conventional propagation has low efficiency due to the small number of seedlings and their contamination by pathogens. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of growth regulators on the development of in vitro-cultivated C. longa as well as to determine their influence on DNA content and foliar anatomy. Shoots were inoculated in MS culture medium with the addition of 30 g/L of sucrose and 6.5 g/L of agar, and a pH adjusted to 5.8. Two assays were built to study the multiplication and rooting phases of growth. The first assay evaluated the influence of eight concentrations of cytokinins and auxins on the multiplication phase. Leaf samples were analyzed for DNA content through flow cytometry, utilizing two reference standards, green pea, and tomato. Characteristics of leaf anatomy were also measured in four time periods. The second assay analyzed the influence of six auxin concentrations on the rooting phase. The first assay showed that the root systems grew more in treatment 3 (4.44 µM benzylaminopurine [BAP], 0.46 µM kinetin [KIN]) and reached greater dry mass in T8 (8.88 µM BAP, 0.92 µM KIN, 2.16 µM naphthalene acetic acid [NAA]). The largest fresh matter of the main shoot was found in T2 (4.44 µM BAP). The estimated DNA content varied depending on the presence of supplemental growth regulators, from 2.38 to 2.77 pg, and was greater in T4 (4.44 µM BAP, 1.08 µM NAA) and T5 (4.44 µM BAP, 0.46 µM KIN, 1.08 µM NAA). Results from the latter two treatments were not significantly different. Estimates of DNA content were precise, as indicated by coefficients of variation that were much lower than 5%. The results also showed quantitative variation of evaluated anatomical traits. In general, there was a thin epidermis layer with rectangular cells, followed by parenchyma with octahedral cells and differentiated xylem and phloem. In leaf parenchyma, the presence of idioblasts containing phenolic compounds was observed in all growth stages. In the rooting phase, the supplementary auxins affected the dry matter of the aerial part and roots. The highest averages were observed in treatments with 2.0 µM NAA.

Sweet basil is a perennial herb. Studies on in vitro cultivation of these plant species are scarce and inconclusive. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of culture medium concentration in combination with antioxidants and plant growth regulators on the in vitro growth and biochemical activity of sweet basil seedlings. Seeds of the ‘Genovese’ cultivar were inoculated into Murashige and Skoog culture medium supplemented with activated carbon and plant growth regulators 6 -benzylaminopurine and a-naphthaleneacetic acid. The seedlings were grown under controlled conditions for 80 days and their biometric and biochemical characteristics evaluated. More abnormal seedlings were observed in the 100% medium with 30 g L-1 sucrose, 0.4 g L-1 6-benzylaminopurine, and 0.2 g L-1 a-naphthaleneacetic acid (T4) and the medium without regulators (T1). However, the T4 culture medium resulted in a higher leaf number and shoot dry mass. Antioxidant activity was higher in the seedlings grown in the culture medium composed of 100% medium + 3.0 g L-1 activated carbon + 0.4 mg L-1 6-benzylaminopurine + 0.2 mg L-1 a-naphthaleneacetic acid (T5) and that composed of 70% medium + 3.0 g L-1 activated carbon + 0.1 mg L-1 6-benzylaminopurine (T3). The enzyme superoxide dismutase showed higher activity in all culture media than catalase or ascorbate peroxidase. Sweet basil seedlings growing in T4 and T1 medium showed the highest growth rate of shoots and the lowest antioxidant activity, whereas seedlings grown in T3 medium had the highest catalase and ascorbate peroxidase activity.

Umuarama, v. 19, n. 4, p. 247-251, out./dez. 2016. RESUMO:Curcuma longa é uma espécie asiática perene e rizomatosa com grandes propriedades medicinais, alimentícias e ornamentais. No processo micropropagativo carece de muitas informações dentre a faixa espectral mais adequada ao seu desenvolvimento. Sendo assim, o objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar diferentes filmes espectrais no desenvolvimento de plântulas de C. longa cultivadas in vitro. Para tanto, brotações de C. longa foram inoculadas em meio Murashig e Skoog e suplementado com 30 g/L de sacarose, 6,5 g/L de ágar 4, 44 μM/L de Benzil aminopurina (BAP) e 1,08 μM/L ácido naftaleno acético (ANA). O pH do meio foi ajustado para 5,8. Os brotos foram submetidos a diferentes intensidades e qualidade espectral de luz: branco, vermelho, amarelo, azul e verde. As plântulas foram mantidas em sala de crescimento em luz constante de 25C° e fotoperíodo de 24 horas por 145 dias. Foram avaliadas características morfológicas e anatômicas. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que as diferenças espectraris propiciaram diferenças no desenvolvimento das plântulas de C. longa e também na contaminação in vitro. O diâmetro da base das plântulas, a massa seca e fresca da parte área e raiz foram influenciadas pelas diferentes faixas espectrais, sendo que de modo geral os filmes, amarelo e branco foram os que propiciaram maiores valores para essas características. Já o filme verde foi o que menos favoreceu o ganho de massa das plântulas, além disso, alta taxa de contaminação foi observada na presença desse filme. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Açafrão-da-terra. Filmes coloridos. Micropropagação. Morfologia. LUMINOUS SPECTRUM IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF IN-VITRO Curcuma longa SEEDLINGSABSTRACT: Curcuma longa is a perennial Asiatic rhizomelic species with important medicinal, food and ornamental properties. However, its micro-propagation process lacks information regarding the most adequate spectral range for its development. Thus, this work aimed to evaluate different spectrum films in the development of in vitro C. longa seedlings. In order to do this, C. longa sprouts were inoculated in Murashig and Skoog media supplemented with 30 g/L of sucrose, 6.5 g/L of agar 4, 44 μM/L of benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 1.08 μM/L naphthalene acetic acid (ANA). The pH was adjusted to 5.8. Sprouts were put under different light spectrum intensity and quality: white, red, yellow, blue and green. The seedlings were maintained in a growth room with constant light at 25 ºC and a 24-hours photoperiod for 145 days. Morphological and anatomical characteristics were analyzed. The results demonstrated that spectral differences propitiated differences in the development of C. longa seedlings, and also in the in vitro contamination. The seedling base diameter, aerial and root dry and fresh mass were influenced by the different spectral ranges, with the yellow and white ranges being those that resulting the highest values for each characteristic. The green spectrum was the least favorable for the seedling regarding mass gain, as we...