¨Evaluación de métodos de propagación de Macleania rupestris (Joyapa) mediante la germinación de semillas y micropropagación de meristemas¨

Abstract

Macleania rupestris, known as Joyapa, belongs to the family of the Ericáceae, is a non-domesticated fruit plant, epiphytic, perennial, endemic Andean species that is found in the páramos and subpáramos Ecuadorian. M. rupestris is considered an important species for the restoration of degraded ecosystems. This species presents difficulty at the time of its spread, which is why it is considered an endangered species. This investigation, two propagation methods (sexual and asexual) for M. rupestris were evaluated. In sexual propagation, seeds of joyapa fruits were used in three phenological stages from the Jima Parish, Sigsig Canton. To induce germination of seeds, gibberellic acid was applied in 6 concentrations and to asexual propagation, 100 apical meristems seeded in a Murashige and Skoog culture medium enriched with gibberellic acid (0.5 mg / l) were used. Results showed that there are no significant statistical differences between the three phenological stages. Concentrations of gibberellic acid that presented the highest percentages of germination were 400 ppm and 800 ppm applied to seeds obtained from fruits in the sweet phenological stage. In the case of asexual propagation using apical meristems, the application of gibberellic acid (0.5 mg / l) added to the culture medium Murashige and Skoog presented the best result reaching 50% of development of the explants. In conclusion, the multiplication of M. rupestris is facilitated with the use of gibberellic acid being the most efficient method at the moment, on the other hand, asexual propagation by apical meristems is foreseen as a promising method once established protocols are established for this species.