Chemical sterilization of culture medium: a low cost alternative to in vitro establishment of plants

Abstract

This study aimed at evaluating the in vitro establishment of nodal segments of Eucalyptus benthamii in a non-autoclaved culture medium supplemented with different concentrations of active chlorine (NaClO): P2 - 0.000%, P3 - 0.001%, P4 - 0.003%, P5 - 0.005%, P6 - 0.007% and P7 - 0.010%, v/v. The control consisted of an autoclaved culture medium without active chlorine (P1 - traditional preparation). The percentage of establishment, viable shoots, fungal and bacterial contamination, number of shoots and total shoot length were evaluated after 28 days. The in vitro establishment of nodal segments of E. benthamii was feasible in culture medium supplemented with active chlorine without autoclaving. Concentrations of 0.001% and 0.003% active chlorine produced results most similar to the traditional culture medium. We conclude that treatment with active chlorine is an effective method for tissue culture in Eucalyptus, and has considerable potential to decrease costs and energy expenditure in other plant-culture systems.