Evaluación de la tasa de sobrevivencia en la aclimatación de Coffea arabica in vitro

Abstract

Abstract: Coffea arabica is an important crop in Ecuador, and the use of biotechnological tools such as somatic embryogenesis allows for the efficient propagation of contamination-free plants. This study evaluated the germination, elongation, and survival of seedlings generated from synthetic seeds under different concentrations of growth hormones, using IBA and KIN in the in vitro process. The results indicated that, during the germination phase, the IBA treatment at 0.5 ml/L favored and accelerated initial development. No significant differences were found in root length and number among the KIN treatments; however, treatment T2 (0.5 ml/L KIN) showed positive growth trends. During the acclimatization phase, seedlings from T2 (0.5 ml/L KIN) exhibited a higher survival rate, adapting better to ex vitro conditions. Furthermore, synthetic seeds planted directly in Jiffy pellets showed higher germination rates in a shorter time. These results highlight the importance of the controlled use of growth regulators to optimize coffee propagation through biotechnological techniques.