Germination In vitro De Jabuticabeira Myrciaria jaboticaba (Vell.) Berg

Aims: The present work aimed to determine the influence of antibiotic use on seed germination and development of jabuticabeira (Myrciaria jaboticaba) seedlings grown in vitro.

Study Design: The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, where the treatments were composed of two types of culture medium and three forms of antibiotic use.

Place and Study duration: The experiment was carried out at the Laboratory of Cell Biology and Culture of Vegetable Tissues (LABCULTIVE), at the Department of Biological Sciences (DCB), at the Agricultural Sciences Center (CCA), Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB), from November 2016 until May 2017.

Methodology: The fruits of jabuticabeira were harvested from a matrix plant and the seeds were removed manually, with subsequent elimination of the pulp and removal of the tegument. They underwent a disinfestation procedure in 70% alcohol and sodium hypochlorite and grown in culture medium.

Results: The highest germination average was obtained when the seeds were soaked for 24 hours in autoclaved water + antibiotic and when placed in liquid medium. In all analyzed variables the liquid medium provided better means. There was no statistical difference in any of the variables analyzed in relation to the use of the antibiotic in the imbibition and the non-use of the antibiotic.

Conclusion: The seeds of Myrciaria jaboticaba have greater germination and better development in the liquid culture medium; the presence of the antibiotic in the culture medium probably caused phytotoxicity, thus compromising the germination.