Cell Viability of Byrsonima intermedia A Juss Calli

Byrsonima intermedia A Juss. is a species with pharmacological properties from the Brazilian Cerrado that shows difficulties related to sexual propagation. Research on cell viability may provide useful information for the selection of cells with embryogenic potential during the callus culture. Within this context, our research is aimed at establishing the cell viability of calli from Byrsonima intermedia leaf segments. The calli went through three subculture phases, of 60 days each, in MS medium with 0.09 M sucrose, 0.6% agar, pH 5.8 and 4.52 μM 2,4-D. The calli were stored in dark conditions and samples were collected every 10 days from each subculture for viability tests with fluorescein 3,6-diacetate (FDA) and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC). The staining methods allowed quantifying cell viability in each subculture. The best results from the FDA tests were obtained at 21, 25 and 29 days for the first, second and third subcultures respectively, with 53.86%, 61.88% and 53.73% viable cells. Regarding the TTC test, the largest absorbance values were obtained at 21, 27 and 28 days for the first, second and third subcultures respectively. Fluorescence and spectrophotometry analyses were efficient for determination of cell viability during callus cultivation period.