Biotechnologies Tools for Germination and Preservation of Butia Eriospatha Embryos (Arecaceae)

Abstract

Butia eriospatha is an endemic species of Brazilian Atlantic Forest and due to the anthropic intervention, it is in the vulnerable conservation status. In this species, plants are only regenerate by seeds which have dormancy and slow as well low germination. To cope with the concern limitation of seedling establishment we study B. eriospatha embryo desiccation tolerance threshold as well the physiological requirement for in vitro germination and cryopreservation. Fresh embryos and desiccated ones were in vitro germinated using a culture medium with hormones and antioxidants. The embryo desiccation tolerance threshold was 0.14 gH2O.gDW-1 with 93.33% of germination. During embryos desiccation was observed a significant increase in PUT, which resulted in the ratio decrease [(SPD+SPM). PUT-1] DW), but the SPD was the most abundant polyamine overall. Significant increase in POD and APX activity led us to suggest that they are the main enzymes involved in cellular protection during desiccation. An increase of amino acids content, especially glutamic acid (Glu), leucine (Leu), lysine (Lys), glutamine (Gln), which are known as osmoprotectors, also was observed. A specific embryo desiccation stage (0.14 gH2O gDW-1) associated to its biochemical state were successfully used in the cryopreservation protocol and result in more than 90% of recovery and in vitro germination. The physiological and biochemistry approach of this study associated to an applied protocol for plant genetic resources conservation of B. eriospatha embryo can be potentially used for other Arecaceae species.