Análise morfológica e protocolo de desinfestação para cultivo in vitro de sanionia uncinata (hedw.) Loeske

Abstract

The main vegetation types in Antarctica are composed by not of bryophytes, lichens, algae and two species of vascular plants. Mosses are a very relevant group to this continent due to its ability to survive in extreme environmental conditions. Therefore, the in vitro culture of mosses of this region is essential not only to observe the development in these conditions, but also to ex situ conservation of living individuals. Sanionia uncinata (Hedw.) Loeske is a relatively common moss in Antarctica mainly in areas of animal movement, which makes it the most likely to be contaminated by external pathogens, even considering that fungi and bacteria can be endosymbiotic in plants. This study aimed to compare morphological characteristics of three Antarctic populations of this moss and to develop a protocol for the disinfestation of these plants in order to obtain sterile material for in vitro propagation. According to the data found in the morphological analysis based on measures of gametophytes and leaves, greater similarity was noted between the Population 1 and Population 2, and biggest difference of both to Population 3. This relationships can be related to the distance among the populations and also because they are of different islands. Among the twenty-two treatments tested for disinfestation, The combined treatment sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and hydrated ethanol 70° INPM (CH3CH2OH), was the most effective to the present study, despite having caused stress in the plants and thus requiring more care so that it remains alive. It is possible to refine and define a protocol for disinfection of Sanionia uncianta explants to become viable cultivation of explants aseptically.