In micropropagation, especially for mangaba tree botanical variety of Northeastern Brazil, limiting aspects such as ethylene accumulation in the cultivation flask and loss of vigor in subcultures have been observed. This study was aimed at assessing the technical and scientific knowledge of the in vitro propagation of botanical mangaba tree variety and at improving the micropropagation protocol, establishing the in vitro cultivation time, the best type of flask sealing and explant at different micropropagation stages. For the establishment phase and for the first and second subcultures, the MS medium with 3% sucrose and 0.6% agar, supplemented with 1 mg L-1 IAA and 1 mg L-1 BA was used. Evaluations were performed at 30, 50 and 65 days of in vitro cultivation. The best types of flask sealing for the establishment phase were the PVC film and Para-film® and for the first subculture the Para-film® seal. In the second subculture the PVC film and Para-film® seals promoted the best growth. The median and basal nodal segments presented the best performance in the first subculture. No significant effect of explant type was observed in the second subculture. The ideal subculture interval in the establishment phase and the first and second subcultures is 50 days.
Hancornia speciosa; tissue culture; in vitro ethylene; nodal segments
