Anatomy and micromorphometric analysis of leaf Catasetum x apolloi Benelli & Grill with addition of potassium silicate under different light sources

The aim of this study was to compare vitroplants Catasetum x apolloi grown under natural light and artificial light and different concentrations of potassium silicate, providing data on the anatomical differentiation that aids the acclimatization process of this species. Plants from in vitro seeding were used; 5 protocorms of approximately 0.5 cm were inoculated into vials with a capacity of 500 mL containing 100 mL of alternative culture medium plus potassium silicate (0.0, 0.5; 1.0 mL L–1), pH adjusted to 5.5 ± 0.5 and gelated with 4GL–1 agar before the autoclaving process. Cultures were maintained under natural light (TNE) and artificial light (TAE) for 90 days, and micromorphometric analysis was performed for polar and equatorial diameter, density and stomatal index, blade thickness in the central rib, and secondary veins. Applications in K2SiO4 alternative medium provided the following: elongation of the hypodermis, thicker mesophyll, and more prominent midrib; elipptical guard cells; formation of epistomatal chamber; and lower stomatal density and stomatal with lower equatorial and polar diameters. The conditions that favored the acclimatization were lower light intensities and lower potassium silicate doses.