Variabilidade genética, biologia floral e propagação in vitro da orquídea sapatinho Phragmipedium lindleyanum (R.H. Schomb. ex Lindl.) Rolfe var sargentianum (Rolfe) O. Gruss

Abstract

The objective of the present work was to study the genetic variability, floral biology and in vitro propagation of P. lindleyanum var. sargentianum in remaining Atlantic Forest in the State of Bahia. Morphometric analysis of the floral parts was used for the genetic variability by univariate and multivariate statistic methods. The floral biology was carried out by field observations and in vitro propagation by germination, multiplication and growth experiments. There was significant difference between the populations for 11 floral characteristics; whereas populations 2 and 3 were the most genetically distant. Flowering lasted about 2 and a half months with its peak in September. Flowers lasted in average, 9.4 days. Natural frutification was high as well as frutification after manual cross pollination and manual self pollination and fruits needed approximately 75 days to reach maturity. Main flower visitors were weevils and bees. The special distribution pattern was aggregated. Culture medium with 1/3 of MS salts in the presence of light and 1/4 MS salts in the absence of light, promoted a culture rich in protocorms in the in vitro germination. BAP at 1.0 mg.L-1 with 0.1 mg.L-1 of NAA resulted in a greater number of adventitious buds and the concentration of 40 g.L-1 of sucrose was the most efficient for in vitro plant growth.