Silveira, DG; Morals Lino, LS; Souza, A; Duarte Souza, FV
Neoglaziovia variegata (Arruda) Mez, a Bromeliad endemic to the Brazilian Caatinga and source of fiber for many different products, is considered an endangered species. Leaf and stem segments were cultivated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with combinations of 2,4- dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) (0, 9, 18 and 27 AIM) and glutamine (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 mg L-1) for the induction of embryogenic calli. Leaf segments did not present a favorable response for the combinations analyzed. The best response for embryo genic calli frequency with the best distribution of somatic embryos on the surface and better conversion rate was obtained using the stems explants in the medium containing 18,mu M 2,4-D and 100 mg L-1 glutamine. The embryogenic calli obtained from the different induction media were transferred to MS medium supplemented with 30 g.L-1 sucrose, 2.4 g.L-1 Phytagel, 0.53 mu M a-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and 0.88, mu M of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). The regenerated plants presented normal growth; however, many embryos did not fully develop.