Indirect organogenesis of Sechium edule (Jacq.) Swartz

This article reports an efficient protocol for the indirect organogenesis of Sechium edule , a Mesoamerican species with important nutritional and pharmaceutical characteristics. The in vitro establishment was carried out with hypocotyl segments; subsequently, the formation of calluses was induced from leaves and nodal stem segments using different concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D; 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg L −1 ). Then, shoot formation was induced using different concentrations of thidiazuron (TDZ; 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg L −1 ) in medium supplemented with 1.0 mg L −1 benzylaminopurine (BAP). Different concentrations of 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA; 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 mg L −1 ) were assessed to stimulate shoot rooting; chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b, and total chlorophyll were quantified during this stage. The results showed that callus formation and weight increased in parallel with 2,4-D concentration, with nodal segments responding favorably. Shoot regeneration was higher in medium supplemented with 0.5 mg L −1 TDZ plus 1.0 mg L −1 BAP. Shoot elongation and rooting were greater using 1.0 mg L −1 NAA, while chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b, and total chlorophyll contents were higher in medium without NAA. A 90% plant survival was recorded after acclimatization.