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Development of the prickly pear cactus Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw. (Cactaceae) in vitro in response to the replacement of potassium nitrate for a commercial kno 3 fertilizer

Desenvolvimento da palma Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw. (Cactaceae) in vitro em resposta à substituição de nitrato de potássio (P.A.) por fertilizante comercial KNO 3

ABSTRACT:

In micropropagation, potassium nitrate (KNO3), an ACS reagent grade chemical, used in the preparation of growing mediums is expensive and its procurement depends on bureaucratic procedures, as it is controlled by the Brazilian Army. This research to assessed the effect of replacing the ACS KNO3 for a commercially available fertilizer (KNO3- based) on the micropropagation of the prickly pear cactus (Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw. cv. Elephant Ear. Treatments used six different fertilizer concentrations (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 and 2.5 g L-1) and a control consisting of 1.9 g L-1 KNO3, as shown in the MS salts. The survival, size and number of sprouts and the value of fresh biomass were evaluated. After seedling acclimation, we assessed the survival, number of sprouts, length, and number of roots, racket formation, average fresh biomass mass, macronutrient absorption and morphological changes of the seedlings. Explants inoculated with fertilizers at concentrations of 0.0; 2.0 and 2.5 g L-¹ did not grow. The response of explants at concentrations of 0.5 and 1.5 g L-1 of the fertilizer were the same as those developed in a KNO3 medium, and at a concentration of 1.0 g L-1, in all variables, the means were higher than those of the control medium. Therefore, it showed the feasibility of using fertilizers in the in vitro cultivation of the prickly pear cactus, which may remove bureaucratic barriers and reduce product costs by 99.12%.

Key words:
macronutrients; micropropagation; cost savings

RESUMO:

Na micropropagação, o nitrato de potássio (KNO3), reagente puro para análise (P.A.), utilizado no preparo dos meios de cultura, possui custo elevado e a sua aquisição depende de trâmites burocráticos, por se tratar de substância controlada pelo Exército Brasileiro. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da substituição do KNO3 P.A. por fertilizante comercial (com fonte de KNO3), encontrado livremente no comércio, na micropropagação de palma (Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw. cv Orelha de Elefante. Os tratamentos foram de seis concentrações do fertilizante (0; 0,5; 1; 1,5; 2 e 2,5 g L-1) e um controle constituído de 1,9 g L-1 de reagente KNO3, conforme mostrado nos sais MS. Avaliou-se a sobrevivência, tamanho e número de brotações do explante, e o valor da biomassa fresca. Após a aclimatização das mudas avaliou-se a sobrevivência, número de brotações, comprimento da parte aérea, número de raízes, formação da raquete, massa média da biomassa fresca, absorção de macronutrientes e alterações morfológicas das mudas. Os explantes inoculados em meio com fertilizantes nas concentrações de 0,0; 2,0 e 2,5 g L-¹ não se desenvolveram. A resposta dos explantes nas concentrações de 0,5 e 1,5 g L-1 do fertilizante foram iguais aos desenvolvidos em meio contendo KNO3, e na concentração de 1,0 g L-1, em todas as variáveis, as médias foram superiores em relação as do controle. Dessa forma, constatou-se a viabilidade do uso do fertilizante no cultivo in vitro da palma, o que propiciou a eliminação dos entraves burocráticos e redução no custo de 99,12% na compra do produto.

Palavras - chave:
macronutrientes; micropropagação; redução de custos

INTRODUCTION:

The cultivation of cactaceae has grown due to its high foraging capabilities and ornamental characteristics, such as varied shapes and sizes. The prickly pear cactus cv. Elephant Ear (Opuntia stricta Haw.) stands out among these species due to its high productivity, low nutritional requirements, tolerance to drought and resistance to carmine mealybug (Dactylopius opuntiae Cockerel), the main cause of damages to cacti (SILVA et al. 2015SILVA, T. G. F. et al. Crescimento e produtividade de clones de palma forrageira no semiárido e relações com variáveis meteorológicas. Revista Caatinga, v.28, n.2, p.10-18, 2015. Available from: <Available from: https://periodicos.ufersa.edu.br/index.php/caatinga/article/view/3630 >. Accessed: Dec. 6, 2019.
https://periodicos.ufersa.edu.br/index.p...
). It is widely used in arid and semi-arid regions (ZINGALE, 2016ZINGALE, N. Tecniche innovative di propagazione e di caratterizzazione di specie e varietà di Opuntia e generi affini. Doctoral Thesis dc. publisher. Università di Catania, 2016. Available from: <Available from: http://dspace.unict.it:8080/handle/10761/4091 >. Accessed: Dec. 12, 2019.
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), where forage cactus represents an important asset for animal feeding. However, conventional propagation methods are insufficient to meet the commercial demand for seedlings in these regions (BHAU & WAKHULU, 2015BHAU, B. S.; WAKHLU, A. K. A highly efficient in vitro propagation protocol for elephant tusk cactus: Coryphantha elephantidens (Lem.) Lem. Journal of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, v.13, n.2, p.215-219, 2015. Available from: <Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1687157X1500030X >. Accessed: Nov. 27, 2019. doi: 10.1016/j.jgeb.2015.07.003.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ar...
). Thus, micropropagation emerges as an alternative to obtain large-scale pest-resistant propagules.

In vitro cultivation enhances clonal propagation and accelerates genetic improvement of plant species, adding value to crops (GAVA & LOPES, 2012GAVA, C. A. T.; LOPES, E. B. Produção de mudas de palma forrageira utilizando fragmentos de cladódios. Petrolina: Embrapa Semiárido, Np. (Embrapa Semiárido. Instruções Técnicas, 101) , 2012. Available from: <Available from: https://www.infoteca.cnptia.embrapa.br/bitstream/doc/930562/1/INT101.pdf >. Accessed: Nov. 17, 2019.
https://www.infoteca.cnptia.embrapa.br/b...
). However, micropropagation is expensive due to the material used in the preparation of the growing medium and the need for appropriate equipment and facilities to perform the technique (WEBER et al. 2015WEBER, B.N. et al. Low-Cost potato tissue culture with microwave and bleach media preparation and sterilization. The Potato Association of America, v.92, n.1, p.128-137, 2015. Available from: <Available from: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12230-014-9423-7 >. Accessed: Oct. 12, 2019. doi: 10.1007 / s12230-014-9423-7.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.100...
). In order to reduce costs, research has been conducted to find different sterilization protocols such as chemical sterilization (PAIS et al. 2016PAIS, A. K. et al. Sodium hypochlorite sterilization of culture medium in micropropagation of Gerbera hybrida cv. Essandre. African Journal of Biotechnology, v.15, n.36, p.1995-1998, 2016. Available from: <Available from: https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajb/article/view/144461 >. Accessed: Nov. 2, 2019. doi: 10.5897/AJB2016.15405.
https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajb/arti...
), the removal or reduction of inorganic salts (CHEE & POOL, 1987CHEE, R.; POOL, R. M. Improved inorganic media constituents for in vitro shoot multiplication of Vitis. Scientia Horticulturae, v.32, n.1-2, p.85-95, 1987. Available from: <Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0304423887900197 >. Accessed: Nov. 10, 2019. doi: 10.1016/03044238(87)90019-7.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ar...
and RIBEIRO & TEIXEIRA, 2008RIBEIRO, J. M; TEIXEIRA, S. L. Potassium nitrate substitution for potassic saltpetre on preparation of plant tissue culture nutritive media esterilized with sodium hypochlorite. Ciência e Agrotecnologia, v 32, n.4, p.1209-1213, 2008. Available from: <Available from: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S1413-70542008000400026&script=sci_arttext&tlng=en >. Accessed: Dec. 10, 2019. doi: 10.1590/S1413-70542008000400026.
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), and the replacement of inaccessible reagents with others, more affordable and freely traded.

Among the reagents that make up the growing medium, potassium nitrate (KNO3), a high-purity macronutrient, is used at a great extent and, in addition to the high price, is an Army-controlled substance. This reagent is key in the induction and differentiation process of the aerial part of the plant, playing both a structural and enzymatic activation role, acting as an osmoregulator (MALAVOLTA et al. (1997MALAVOLTA, E. et al. Avaliação do estado nutricional das plantas: princípios e aplicações, 1997.) and TAIZ & ZEIGER, 2013TAIZ, L.; ZEIGER, E. Fisiologia vegetal. 5. ed. Porto Alegre: Artmed, p.918, 2013.). Replacing ACS KNO3 with easy-to-purchase and lower-cost products tends to be a promising alternative to make micropropagated seedlings viable, provided their toxic effect on the explant is duly assessed (RIBEIRO et al. 2013RIBEIRO, J. M. et al. Use of panela as nutritive medium for in vitro culture of banana cv. Maçã. Ceres, v.60, n.5, p.722-725, 2013. Available from: <Available from: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S0034-737X2013000500017&script=sci_arttext >. Accessed: Dec. 5, 2019 doi: 10.1590/S0034737X2013000500017.
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).

To reduce costs in the acquisition of growing medium components and eliminating bureaucratic procedures for the purchase of reagents, this paper assessed the replacement of ACS KNO3 for a commercial fertilizer and its effect on in vitro and exogenous development of the prickly pear cactus Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The vegetable matter from the prickly pear cactus used as an explant donor came from the inventory culture of the Embrapa Biotechnology Laboratory, Semi-arid, Petrolina, PE (09º04’16,4” S, 0 40º19’5,37” W). The plants were maintained for 120 days in a growth room with a 16-hour photoperiod, temperature of 25 ± 2 oC and light intensity of 40 µmol m2. The nutrient medium consisted of inorganic MS salts (MURASHIGE & SKOOG, 1962MURASHIGE T, SKOOG F. A revised medium for rapid growth and bio assays with tobacco tissue cultures, Physiol. Plant. v.15, n.3, p.473-497, 1962. Available from: <Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1399-3054.1962.tb08052.xt >. Accessed: Sep. 10, 2019. doi: 101111/j.13993054.1962.tb08052.x.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/...
).

In vitro development was assessed at different concentrations of granular KNO3, trade name Dripsolin (chemical composition (45% K2O, 12% N and 1.2% S) in the growing medium, replacing the ACS reagent. We used the concentrations 0.5, 1.0; 1.5; 2.0 and 2.5 g L-1 of the fertilizer and for control purposes, we used ACS KNO3 (1,9 g L-1), as a reagent, in a total of seven treatments. The different concentrations were based on calculations of the chemical formulation in proportion to the ACS reagent.

The nutrient medium consisted of inorganic MS salts (MURASHIGE & SKOOG, 1962MURASHIGE T, SKOOG F. A revised medium for rapid growth and bio assays with tobacco tissue cultures, Physiol. Plant. v.15, n.3, p.473-497, 1962. Available from: <Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1399-3054.1962.tb08052.xt >. Accessed: Sep. 10, 2019. doi: 101111/j.13993054.1962.tb08052.x.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/...
), and White vitamins (WHITE, 1943WHITE, P.R. Nutrient deficiency studies and an improved inorganic nutrient medium for cultivation of excised tomato roots. Growth, v.7, p.53-65, 1943.). The medium was supplemented with 0.1 g inositol, 30 g L-1 sucrose, 1.5 mg L-1 of 6 benzylaminopurine (BAP), 0.0625 mg L-1 naphthalene acetic acid (ANA) and 5 g L-1 agar as a gelling agent. The pH was adjusted to 5.9 ± 1 and the medium was sterilized by autoclaving (121 °C, 1.05 kg cm² for 20 minutes). After the preparation, 20 mL of the growing medium was distributed into containers glasses (50 mm x 200 mm).

Transverse segments of approximately 3 mm were placed in the growing medium and kept in the growth room at the Biotechnology Laboratory of the State University of Bahia (09º 25 ‘43.6” S, 40º 32’ 14” W, 384 m), at a temperature of 27 + 1 °C, 16-hour photoperiod and irradiance of 19 mol m-2 s-1.

In vitro development was evaluated by counting the average number of shoots, the average number of shoots greater than or equal to two centimeters and the average value of fresh biomass. During the acclimatization, plants developed in vitro were transplanted to disposable cups (200 mL) filled with commercial substrate, identified according to each treatment and kept in a greenhouse with 75% shading. They were manually irrigated every four days. On the 35th day, plants were assessed with regard to the average number of shoots, average length of root and shoot, formation of cladode, average value of fresh biomass. In order to quantify the absorption of macronutrients according to the methodology proposed by Silva et al. (2009SILVA, F. C. D. S. et al. Manual de análises químicas de solos, plantas e fertilizantes (Vol. 627). Brasília: Embrapa Informação Tecnológica; Rio de Janeiro: Embrapa Solos, 2009. ), we took a composite sample of each treatment. The seedlings were placed in five-liter plastic pots, filled with commercial substrate to allow the observation of morphological characteristics of the adult plant, and supposed changes due to the different dosages of potassium nitrate.

The experiment was conducted in a randomized design with seven treatments, five replications and three experimental plots. Count data were into x + 0.5in order to meet the statistical assumptions, submitted to a variance analysis, and when proven significant (P < 0.05), the means were compared by the Tukey test at a 5% significance, using the Statistica software, version .8.0.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

Prickly pear cactus explants in a medium containing fertilizer at concentrations of 0.0; 2.0; and 2.5 g L-1 did not survive. Therefore, we were able to assess only plants obtained from treatments with concentrations of 0.5; 1.0 and 1.5 g L-1 of commercial fertilizer and compared to explants developed in a medium containing the ACS reagent (1.9 g L-1), as a control treatment. Treatments with a growing medium containing 0.5 and 1.0 g L-1 of commercial fertilizer had a higher yield of shoots and shoots ≥ 2 cm than the control treatment (ACS KNO3;). Regarding the average value of fresh biomass, the control treatment 1.0 g L-1 provided the highest value, while other treatments did not differ from the control treatment (Table 1).

Table 1
Influence of different sources and potassium nitrate concentrations in the in vitro development of the prickly pear cactus Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw. cv. Elephant ear.

In general, fertilizer dosages used in the preparation of the growing medium promoted responses on the explants of prickly pears cactus equal to or higher than those developed in the medium containing the ACS reagent. However, it should be noted that the 1.0 g L-1 fertilizer concentration resulted in higher values ​​of all variables assessed. After 35th days of acclimatization, the plants showed the same responses in different concentrations of KNO3 fertilizer in relation to the average length of the aerial part, average length of the root (MRL) and average formation of rackets / cladodes (ARI). As for the average number of sprouts (ANS) and average value of fresh biomass (FAVA), concentrations of 0.5 and 1.0 g L-1 produced higher values ​​when compared to those obtained in treatments 1.9 (control treatment) and 1.0 g L- 1 media (Table 2). During the acclimatization period, the plants adapted to the environment and showed a similar development; although, the seedlings were originated from micropropagation in growing mediums with different KNO3 concentrations. The palm grew evenly and on day 20, the racket became expressive in the plants that went through the different treatments assessed, showing no morphological abnormality during its establishment. Leaf analysis allowed to ascertain macronutrient absorption, as a function of the different concentrations and source of KNO3 (Table 3). The pace of nutritional absorption under the conditions proposed in the experiment was in the following ascending order: P <Mg <Ca <N <K.

Table 2
Influence of different sources and potassium nitrate n the ex vitro development of the Prickly Pear Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw. cv. Elephant ear.
Table 3
Influence of different sources and potassium nitrate concentrations on the nutritional absorption of in vitro micro propagated prickly pears Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw.

Nitrogen is featured exclusively in the form of cation and anion (ammonium andnitrate, respectively) and is key in the performance of plant metabolic activities and absorption of other nutrients from the environment (REZENDE et al., 2008REZENDE, J. C. et al. Development of Coffea arabica L. seedlings obtained from direct somatic embryogenesis. Coffee Science, v.3, n.1, p.30-37, 2008. Available from: <Available from: http://sbicafe.ufv.br/handle/123456789/5635 >. Accessed: Dec. 5, 2019. doi: 10.25186/cs.v3i1.70.
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). It also directly influences the development of plants and, when in inappropriate quantities, may be highly harmful. (SASAMORI et al. 2016SASAMORI, M. H. et al. Low macronutrient concentrations benefit in vitro propagation of Vriesea incurvata (Bromeliaceae), an endemic species of the Atlantic Forest, Brazil. Rodriguésia, v.67, n.4, p.1071-1081, 2016. Available from: <Available from: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S217578602016000401071&script=sci_arttext&tlng=pt >. Accessed: Dec. 6, 2019. doi: 10.1590/21757860201667417.
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). Thus, the death of prickly pear explants, grown in a growing medium with 0; 2.0 and 2.5 g L-1, may have been caused by the absence or excess of nitrogen in the form of nitrate, reported in the commercial fertilizer. However, fertilizer concentrations of 0.5 to 1.0 g L-1 added to the growing medium resulted in a good in vitro development of the prickly pear cactus, due to its low nutritional requirements, thus confirming the nutritional information of this species as assessed by LOPES et al. (2010LOPES, E. B. et al. Selection of cactus pear forage (Opuntia spp.) And (Nopalea spp.) Genotypes resistant to the carmine cochineal (Dactylopius opuntiae Cockerell, 1929) in the state of Paraíba, Brazil. Engenharia Ambiental Pesquisa e Tecnologia, v.7, n.1, p.204-215, 2010. Available from: <Available from: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/8251/8d97aef3dfeec651aafb1620901f438eeb05.pdf >. Accessed: Dec. 6, 2019.
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), and this behavior is also observed in ex vitro growth. Thus, in order to reduce micropropagation costs, it is advised to use the smallest amount of fertilizer, which meets the nutritional needs of the in vitro culture of the prickly pear without changing the physiological behavior under acclimatization and post-acclimatization conditions. The use of low concentrations does not change the macronutrient absorption process, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, thus not interfering in the metabolic processes (TAIZ and ZEIGER, 2013TAIZ, L.; ZEIGER, E. Fisiologia vegetal. 5. ed. Porto Alegre: Artmed, p.918, 2013.). Considering the high proportion of KNO3 in the ACS growing medium, the high cost and unavailability of nitrogen salts, there are some ongoing studies on alternative methods to make the micropropagation technique viable. KURITA & TAMAKI (2014KURITA, F. M. K., TAMAKI, V. In vitro growth of the bromeliad Alcantarea imperialis (Carrière) Harms with different concentrations of nitrogen. Acta Scientiarum. Biological Sciences, v.36, n.3, p.279-285, 2014. Available from: <Available from: http://www.periodicos.uem.br/ojs/index.php/ActaSciBiolSci/article/view/22933 >. Accessed: Nov. 30, 2019. doi: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v36i3.22933.
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) and SASAMORI et al. (2016), achieved a good development of bromeliads, when they reduced the amounts of salts and nitrogen compounds of the in vitro ACS medium.SOUSA et al. (2006SOUSA, C. M. et al. Otimização da concentração dos sais do meio MS na propagação in vitro de gérbera, var. ‘Ornela’. Agronomia, v.40, p.52-58, 2006. Available from: <Available from: http://www.ia.ufrrj.br/revista/Vol.%2040%20-2006/DPF/Trab.%20008%20-.pdf >. Accessed: Nov. 6, 2019.
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) tested the reduction of ammonium nitrate and potassium nitrate in the micropropagation of coffee (Coffea arabica L. cv Rubi), and the best results were achieved in explants inoculated in a growing medium with 50% ammonium nitrate and 75% of potassium nitrate. Similar results were achieved by REZENDE et al. (2008), in the same coffee variety (Rubi), grown in vitro, in which the highest shoot growth occurred with the lowest concentrations of potassium nitrate and this development pattern was maintained in acclimatized plants. The result of reducing potassium nitrate concentration of the ACS medium in the in vitro culture of these crops is similar to the results reported for the prickly pear cactus. Under the conditions tested in this analysis, the lower KNO3 concentrations (0.5 and 1.0 g L-1), which corresponds to a 26.3 and 52.6% reduction, respectively, led to the highest growth under both in vitro and ex vitro conditions. Results showed that the reduction of potassium nitrate provides greater development, confirming that adjusting the salt concentrations of the ACS medium improves the quality of the resulting seedlings and also provides a cost reduction in the in vitro propagation. In addition to reducing inorganic salts, the replacement for more affordable products, eliminating bureaucratic and less expensive procedures, can be a promising alternative. VILLA et al. (2009VILLA, F. et al. Utilização de nitrato de amônio e de uréia como fontes de nitrogênio na micropropagação de amoreira-preta. Scientia Agraria, v.10, n.5, p.365-370, 2009. Available from: <Available from: https://www.redalyc.org/pdf/995/99512493004.pdf >. Accessed: Dec. 12, 2019. doi: 10.5380/rsa.v10i5.15192.
https://www.redalyc.org/pdf/995/99512493...
), studied the possibility of inserting urea in the ratios of 0; 20; 40; 60; 80 and 100% in comparison to ACS ammonium nitrate in the micropropagation of the Blackberry (Rubus rubus) cv Tupy. In the absence of salt, plants yielded the highest amount of leaves, but plants developed in a medium with urea amounts higher than 20% presented reduced plant heights, number of leaves and fresh biomass, due to the resulting phytotoxicity. In the micropropagation of the pernambuco pineapple, urea was used at a concentration of 40%, replacing ACS ammonium nitrate, confirming the feasibility of the partial or total replacement of the agent, promoting a better plant development in a solid growing medium (MOREIRA et al., 2007MOREIRA, M. A. et al. Micropropagation of pineapple cv. Pérola with urea as nitrogen source. Acta Scientiarum. Agronomy, v.29, p.689-693, 2007. Available from: <Available from: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S1807-86212007000500015&script=sci_arttext&tlng=pt >. Accessed: Nov. 30, 2019. doi: 10.4025/actasciagronv29i5.748.
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). This response is associated with the nutritional specificity and phenological stage of each plant species in the absence of potassium nitrate. The prickly pear explants did not survive, as other plant species, such as the Hypericum teretiusculum A.St.Hil, wherein the reduction of nitrogenous compounds in the ACS growing medium harmed the development of plants (CAMPELO et al., 2020CAMPELO, M. R. et al. Effects of different concentrations of ammonium nitrate and potassium nitrate on the micropropagation of two species of Hypericum l. Brazilian Journal of Development, v.6, n.11, p.85050-85056, 2020. Available from: <Available from: https://www.brazilianjournals.com/index.php/BRJD/article/view/19364/15543 >. Accessed: Nov. 27, 2019. doi: 10.34117/bjdv6n11-063.
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). RIBEIRO & TEIXEIRA (2008RIBEIRO, J. M; TEIXEIRA, S. L. Potassium nitrate substitution for potassic saltpetre on preparation of plant tissue culture nutritive media esterilized with sodium hypochlorite. Ciência e Agrotecnologia, v 32, n.4, p.1209-1213, 2008. Available from: <Available from: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S1413-70542008000400026&script=sci_arttext&tlng=en >. Accessed: Dec. 10, 2019. doi: 10.1590/S1413-70542008000400026.
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) tested the reduction and replacement of ACS KNO3 for another fertilizer - potassium saltpeter - in the in vitro cultivation of Brazilian ginseng (Pfaffia glomerata), thus achieving a biomass increase. In this research, we obtained similar results in the in vitro and ex vitro cultivation of the prickly pear cactus, since its seedlings showed good development during and after acclimatization, maintaining a pattern and uniformity during growth. Regarding the nutrient absorption rate in the prickly pear cactus, SANTOS et al. (1990SANTOS, M.V. F. et al. Estudo comparativo das cultivares de palma forrageira “Gi-gante”, “Redonda” (Opuntia fcus-indicaMill) e “Miúda” (Nopalea cochenilliferaSalm-Dick) na produção de leite. Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Zootecnia, v.19, n.6, p.504-511, 1990. Available from: <Available from: hhttps://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/19921445564 >. Accessed: Dec. 6, 2019.
hhttps://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abs...
) reported an ascending order at the end of the production cycle: N <P <K <Ca. When propagated in a medium with different proportions of KNO3 (ACS Reagent and granular fertilizer), the absorption rate was in an ascending order: P <Mg <Ca <N <K. Different absorption rates may be due to different physiological requirements throughout the development phases of the plant. Plant samples in this research were collected on the 35th day, under acclimatization conditions. Considering the development of the prickly pear cactus, under the conditions proposed for this paper, changing the ACS reagent for a commercial fertilizer is a promising alternative, since the acquiring ACS potassium nitrate (KNO3) in Brazil is subject to the army’s authorization (Ordinance No. 118, 2019). Another feature that enhances the use commercial fertilizers as a viable alternative for potassium and nitrogen supply instead of the ACS reagent is the similar chemical composition (45% K2O, 12% N and 1.2% S) and the ACS reagent (44% K2O and 13% N). Therefore, replacing KNO3 (ACS) minimizes the costs of setting a growing medium, as the current price of fertilizers is approximately R$ 170.20 each 25 Kg, while the ACS reagent costs R$ 780.00. The replacement resulted not only in a 99.12% cost reduction, but also eliminated procurement issues, as the purchase of fertilizer does not need to be authorized by the Armed Forces. When compared to the ACS medium protocol, a smaller proportion of commercial fertilizer (0.5 to 1.5 g L -1) was enough to achieve the in vitro development and maintaining the ex vitro growth for the prickly pear cactus.

CONCLUSION:

The 1.0 g L-1 concentration of a potassium nitrate-based fertilizer promoted the best growth response in the prickly pear cactus cv. Elephant Ear, both in and ex vitro, when compared to the ACS reagent. Replacing an ACS potassium nitrate reagent (KNO3) for a similar commercial fertilizer is a promising alternative to the micropropagation of the prickly pear cactus cv. Elephant Ear, reducing costs of purchasing this reagent by 99.12% and eliminating paperwork.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Cinthia Carolinne de Souza Ferreira thanks to Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - finance code 001.

REFERENCES

  • CR-2020-0122.R1
  • 1
    Editors: Leandro Souza da Silva Maria Jaislanny Medeiros

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    16 Aug 2021
  • Date of issue
    2022

History

  • Received
    10 Feb 2020
  • Accepted
    31 Mar 2021
  • Reviewed
    24 May 2021
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