One of the most limiting factors of orchid in vitro culture is the acclimatization. Thus the aim of this study was to evaluate the survival and initial growth of the Brassavola tuberculata (Orchidaceae) using naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), and different substrates during acclimatization. Plants were obtained from in vitro culture, previously immersed for 10 seconds in NAA solutions (0.0; 0.5; 1.0; 1.5; 2.0; 2.5; 3.0; 4.0 or 4.5 mg/L), and planted in plastic containers containing as substrate sphagnum, coconut fiber or a mix of sphagnum + coconut fiber 1:1 (v:v). The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design, and the treatments were arranged in factorial 3x10, three substrates and 10 NAA concentrations, with 10 replications of one plant. After staying for 210 days in the greenhouse (83 µmol/m2/s) the plants were evaluated according to their survival, number of leaves, roots and offshoots, the length of the longest leaf and the longest root, fresh and dry mass of shoot and root. Increments of these variables in relation to the observed values during planting were also calculated. The substrates were evaluated according to their porosity, maximum water retention, substrate density, real density, electric conductivity and pH. The highest survival (67.7%) was obtained using the calculated concentration of 1.8 mg/L NAA which promotes the formation of efficient root system for the development of the species. The sphagnum is the most suitable substrate for the survival and early growth of B. tuberculata, in acclimatization phase.
Orchidaceae; in vitro culture; native species; floriculture; phytoregulator.
