In vitro Propagation of Oreocallis grandiflora (Lam.) R. Br., A Medicinal Threatened Plant

Aims: To promote the conservation and biotechnology approach of Oreocallis grandiflora, a promising wild, medicinal and agroforestry Peruvian plant, a methodology for its in vitro propagation was performed.

Study Design:  Disinfection and germination of seed, followed by shoot multiplication and rooting using in vitro techniques.

Place and Duration of Study: Follicles were collected in Yupa - Huaraz (9°30'26.76"S, 77°28'21.33"W) and the experimental procedure was done between January 2013 and December 2016.

Methodology: Follicles with different colors were disinfected with ethanol 70% at different times, and seeds were place on basic culture medium composed by ½ Murashige and Skoog, sucrose (30 g·L^-1) and phytagel (3 g·L^-1), at pH 5.7. Shoot induction was performed using N⁶-benzylaminopurine (BAP) at 0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 4 mg·L^-1. For root induction, α-naphthalenacetic acid (NAA) or gibberellic acid (GA₃) at 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.0 mg·L^-1 were used.

Results: Disinfection of follicles at 15 and 20 min. of 70% ethanol were successful at 100%, and all seed germinated without addition of any growth regulator. The best shoot induction treatments were 3.0 and 4.0 mg·L^-1 of BAP at 60 days of PGR exposition. For the root development PGR supplement was not necessary, but GA₃ improved rooting percentage and explants growth while NAA induced callusing.

Conclusion: This is the first report of in vitro propagation of O. grandiflora, and provides important results to promote its domestication, ex situ conservation, and biotechnological applications.