It was aimed to produce micropropagated plantlets of pineapple cv. Pérola by using the etiolated technique and subsequent recovery of etiolated shoots. Two experiments were carried out. In the first, the stalks used as explant were obtained from in vitro shoots established without leaves. The etiolation was induced by putting the explants in test tubes in the darkness for 20, 40 and 80 days with the media: 1) MS supplemented with ANA 0.1mg.L-1 and BAP 0.5mg.L-1, 2) MS supplemented with ANA 1.8mg.L-1 and BAP 2mg.L-1 and 3) MS without growth regulators. The best results for shoot number were obtained with MS + ANA 1.8mg.L-1 and BAP 2mg.L-1 media (10.26 shoots at 40 days in the darkness). The MS medium without growth regulators, was significantly better for etiolated shoots when the explants were maintained for 80 days in the darkness, presenting 10.86cm mean length. In the second experiment, the etiolated shoots, with or without apex, were put horizontally in plates containing the three culture media described before. The MS medium supplemented with ANA 1.8mg.L-1 and BAP 2mg.L-1 induced the best result for total shoots number (10.61 shoots when the apex were eliminated).
Ananas comosus; tissue culture; propagation; Bromeliaceae; light absence
