In vitro culture of zygotic embryos and seeds of Caesalpinia ferrea Martius

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro germination of zygotic embryos and seeds of Caesalpinia ferrea Martius and the morphogenetic responses of the explants to different concentrations of growth regulators. Seeds and zygotic embryos were inoculated in MS culture medium and kept in a growth room at a temperature of 25 ± 2 ºC for 16 hours of photoperiod for 30 days. The seeds had a higher in vitro germination rate than the explants from zygotic embryos. However, zygotic embryos in MS medium supplemented with 0.9 mg L-1 BAP had the highest percentage of regeneration (50%), number of shoots (3.25), buds (2.85) and leaves (3.15), multiplication rate (27.75), and length of shoots (1.96 cm). The in vitro culture of zygotic embryos and seeds made possible the multiplication of a higher number of healthy seedlings. Thus, it can be used as an alternative technique for the propagation of this species.