Low multiplication rates and high contamination in the explants are some of the difficulties in artichoke micropropagation. In vitro seed germination may be an alternative to obtain healthy explants for use in future in vitro cultivation. This project developed at the laboratory of Universidade de Passo Fundo was established to evaluate cv. 'Nobre' artichoke seeds in vitro germination. In three experiments, active chloride concentrations on seed aseptic technique; tegument treatment (kept intact, with side cuts and elimination); lighting conditions (light or dark); and two cultivation media [MS medium, with salts concentration reduced by half (M1) and MS medium, full strenger (M2)] have been tested. In both cases, 30 g L-1 sucrose and 7 g L-1 agar were added, with pH adjusted to 5.6 with NaOH. Cultivation took place in a growth chamber. It is viable to obtain healthy artichoke plantlets in short time (seven days), to be used as a source of explants from in vitro seed germination without the tegument (77,5% of germination), using the M1 or M2 culture medium and growth chamber without light. In these conditions, the asepsis of seeds can be done with alcohol 70% during 30 minutes and the subsequent immersion in solution of 2% of active chlorine during 10 minutes, before the removal of the tegument.
Cynara cardunculus L. subsp. scolymus (L.) Fiori; culture medium; explant; in vitro culture
