Physical and chemical methods for contaminant control during the in vitro introduction and establishment of Bambusa vulgaris Schrad. ex J. C. Wendl.

Abstract

The aim of the research was to test physical and chemical methods to reduce microbial contamination during the introduction and establishment of the in vitro propagation of Bambusa vulgaris by means of two experiments. The first one was conducted in a completely randomized design in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (removal or non-removal of leaf residues covering the bud × two types of culture medium). The second experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement (use or non-use of thermotherapy for nodal segments × three types of culture medium). Removal of leaf residues in the first experiment did not ensure a high sanitary level of the nodal segments, as well as thermotherapy at 50°C for 20 minutes in the second experiment, which affected sprouting. The liquid medium with half the concentration of salts, without sucrose, with 4 mL L-1 Derosal 500 SC® and 200 mg L-1 Chloramphenicol in the first experiment resulted in 48% of nodal segments sprouted and free of contamination, this value being of 52% in the second experiment, proving to be the most effective tested chemical method to reduce microbial contamination.