ENLARGEMENT AND ROOTING OF PERUVIAN CHERRY (Physalis peruviana L.) VITROPLANTS

Abstract

The Peruvian cherry (Physalis peruviana L.) is an important plant due to its high content of minerals, vitamins A and C, with an antidiabetic effect, also contributing to decrease albumin in the kidneys. Tissue culture techniques could allow its massive propagation in a short time. In this work, the effect of Murashige and Skoog (MS) salts concentrations on in vitro enlargement and rooting of this plant was studied; also the traditional acclimation substrate of plantlets was compared with a hydroponic acclimation substrate. The best rooting results were obtained by using a 50 %concentration of MS salts, producing higher shoots (14.4 cm), increase in root size (6 cm), number of leaves (4.3), and number of buds (3.3). Rooting took place simultaneously with in vitro shoots enlargement, and no significant differences were observed between acclimation systems. One hundred percent of acclimated plantlets were established in a covered system until fructification, in a period of 90 days.