The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of different silicon sources, used in micropropagation, on the anatomical characteristics of strawberry's (Fragaria x ananassa) seedlings. Propagules of cv.Oso Grande were cultivated on a Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 30 gL-1 of sucrose, 6 gL-1 of agar and 1mgL-1 of 6-benzylamino purine. The treatments consisted of calcium, sodium, or potassium silicates added to the MS medium, at the dosage of 1 gL-1. The MS medium without added silicon was the check treatment. The experimental design was completely randomized with ten replications. The propagules were maintained during 45days in a growth chamber, under controlled conditions. Developmental and anatomical characteristics of the in vitro propagules were evaluated. Fresh and dry weight of the propagules increased in the presence of sodium silicate. The supplementation of the culture medium with silicon increased the content of chlorophyll. The addition of sodium silicate inthe MS medium resulted inincreased thickness of leaf tissues and epicuticular wax deposition and inincreased silicon deposit inthe cells.
Fragaria x ananassa; epicuticular wax; in vitro micropropagation; silicate
