Conservação in vitro de Cochlospermum regium (Schrank) pilg.- cochlospermaceae sob regime de crescimento mínimo

Cochlospermum regium is a plant from cerrado, caatinga and pantanal areas. In popular medicine, it is known as "algodao-do-campo" and its roots are used to treat uterine and intestinal infections, gastritis, ulcers and arthritis. Nowadays, extraction activities and the destruction of natural habitats has made "algodao-do-campo" one of the major native medicinal species for ex situ conservation. The aim of this work was to develop a methodology for the in vitro conservation of "algodao-do-campo", contributing to studies on the micropropagation of this species. In vitro germination was evaluated in "algodao-do-campo" seeds subjected to scarification or not with sulfuric acid and inoculation in MS medium. For in vitro conservation, nodal segments from in vitro-germinated seedlings were evaluated for 90 days at three temperatures (10, 20 and 25oC) and three WPM medium concentrations (½, ¾ and full-strength). Scarified seeds presented 93.3% in vitro germination at 30 days of cultivation, a significantly higher value than the 13.3% observed for non-scarified seeds. The in vitro conservation of "algodao-do-campo" showed to be viable once cultures are kept in a growth chamber at 20oC in ½ WPM medium. Under such conditions, the explants presented a minimal growth and 100% survival after three evaluation months.