Establecimiento de un protocolo de propagación in vitro de pitahaya (Hylocereus megalanthus), para la obtención de plantas completas

Abstract

Yellow pitahaya has become one of Ecuador's main export products, representing a great source of income for the country. In vitro cultivation is proposed as an option to solve phytosanitary problems, irregular cultivation and dormancy in seeds of this species. In the present research, an in vitro propagation protocol for H. megalanthus (Yellow Pitahaya) was established, starting from the seed until obtaining complete plants; Basal salts Murashige & Skoog (MS) and Gamborg (B5) were evaluated in concentrations of 50 and 100 % for the introduction phase to the crop, 50 % MS was effective in inducing the germination process; while, for stem development and promoting early germination, basal salts B5 at concentrations of 50 % and 100 % were effective. For the multiplication phase, 50 % B5 supplemented with growth regulators (BAP and AIA) was used. In this phase, concentrations of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles (NPsZnO) were evaluated, resulting in doses from 0,5 to 2 ppm of NPsZnO. They favor the elongation of the pitahaya stem, as well as the generation of new shoots, depending on the explant. For the acclimatization phase, substrates made up of peat and rice husks in different proportions were evaluated; 100 % survival was obtained in all treatments.