XVI International Botanical Congess

Somatic embryogenesis of Heliconia stricta Huber is reported here for the first time. Floral buds and meristems were used as explant for the induction embryogenic callus. Bioassays were carried out with nine combinations of hormones (2,4-D and AIA), in MS (1962) medium supplemented with vitamins and sucrose (30 g/L). The culture were maintained under dark conditions and at 24±1?C. The results showed that the best embryogenic response was obtained in MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D (3.0-5.0 mg/L), AIA (1.0-2.5 mg/L), between four and six months after culture. The generated embryoids exhibited similar development to those by of zygotic embryos from sexual seeds given rise first to a globular stage, followed by a scutellar and finally to a coleoptilar embryo shape. The bioconvertion process was achieved when the embryos were subcultured in SH (1972) medium, supplemented with vitamins, thyamine (1.0 mg/L), sucrosa (40 g/L) and phytagel (1.6 g/L), but auxins free and placed under artificial light and temperatura laboratory conditions. At the end of the processes, the embryo were placed into test tubes and filter paper bridges in a MS medium supplemented with vitamins, thyamine (1.0 mg/L), L-glutamine (50 mg/L), biotin (1.0 mg/L), zeatin (0.1 mg/L), adenine (1.0 mg/L), coconut water to get the final in vitro bioconvertion. The bioconvertion process was observed at the end of six months after embryos developed and radicular and shoot systems formation appeared. The percentage of in vitro bioconvertion ranged between 69-98%.