No abstract

Curcuma longa (C. longa) is widely known for its medicinal properties. However, the potential overexploitation of this plant raises doubts about its long-term survival on Rapa Nui. Micropropagation using a temporary immersion system (TIS) could be the basis for developing a cost-effective and highly productive method of large-scale cultivation of this plant. Our objective was to develop and refine the in vitro multiplication system for mass propagation of C. longa, and thus help restore the fragile ecosystem of Rapa Nui. Three parameters were evaluated: number of explants per flask, flask capacity, and LEDs spectrum. For each parameter evaluated, four aspects were analyzed: fresh weight per plant, number of shoots, percentage of non-sprouting explants, and the proliferation rate. The use of 30 explants per two-liter flask results in more plants with high fresh biomass than other configurations. In addition, LEDs with a red:blue ratio of 2:1 provided the best lighting conditions for in vitro propagation and positively affected C. longa proliferation and rooting. Therefore, our results show that 30 explants per two-liter flask and an LED source with a red:blue ratio of 2:1 allow a higher number of C. longa plants to be obtained using TIS.

Root morphological traits and biomass allocation were studied in 2-year-old ‘Duke 7’ avocado (Persea americana) trees propagated using seedling and clonal techniques. The plants either were or were not grafted with the scion ‘Hass’. Whole tree excavation 1 year after planting revealed that the propagation technique affected the root growth angle of the main roots (third order roots), the root length density (defined as the total length of roots per volume of soil), and the number of first and second order roots present. The root system of clonal trees showed a typical morphology of rooted cuttings, with a crown of roots originating from a relatively short stem, resulting in a shallow root system. Clonal trees, compared with seedlings, produced main framework roots with shallower angles and more fine roots (first and second order roots) that increased the root length density (defined as the total length of roots per volume of soil). Nongrafted seedlings exhibited a main taproot and lateral roots with narrow angles that penetrated deeper into the soil and increased the aboveground biomass but had a lower root-to-shoot ratio than nongrafted clonal trees. The grafting of both clonal and seedling trees resulted in similar root architecture and revealed that grafting significantly decreased the soil volume explored and the shoot and root biomass. Although both root systems were shallow, grafted clonal trees had a higher root-to-shoot ratio than grafted seedlings. In this study, a distinct class of roots with large diameter and unbranched growth was more abundant in the root systems of clonal trees. These types of roots (previously undescribed in avocado trees), called pioneer roots, may enhance soil exploration in clonal trees.

In Chile, most avocado orchards have been planted using 'Hass' as the scion variety on seedling rootstocks. This has led to the presence of a large variety of individuals, some of which show, among other characteristics, high productivity and a low degree of biennial bearing cycle in the same growing conditions. The most common method used in other countries to propagate such rootstocks from trees involves severe topping; however, this technique is notably destructive, making it difficult to employ in commercial orchards. With the goal of developing alternate methods for forcing shoot production from the rootstock, we tested two different procedures in July 2002 and March 2003, respectively: wounding in conjunction with the application of 1.1 M or 2.2 M benzylaminopurine (BAP) and the removal of one half of the tree canopy (on a vertical plane) and girdling (at widths of 2 or 5 mm). The results indicate that, by removing the top layer of the soil, wounding and applying the BAP spray (1.1 M in July), it is possible to force the production of epicormic or basal sprouting from the rootstock. Additionally, vigorous shoots were obtained on both evaluation dates through the removal of half of the canopy or through girdling.

Resumen Por ser una especie de polinización cruzada y altamente heterocigótica, la multiplicación del aguacate por semilla origina una progenie altamente variable en relación a las características morfológicas y biológicas. Por ese motivo, se hizo relevante la adopción de métodos de propagación más eficientes, que resulten en plántulas de mejor calidad en términos de producción y resistencia a enfermedades. La injertación es el más utilizado para la propagación comercial de aguacate en los principales países productores. Originalmente, la implementación de plantaciones de aguacate se realizó a partir de plántulas obtenidas de portainjertos provenientes de semillas, siendo ese método de multiplicación el que aún predomina en Brasil. Sin embargo, tal procedimiento confiere en el campo mucha variabilidad y diferencias de productividad, calidad y vigor entre las plantas. En países que adoptan mayor nivel tecnológico, el portainjerto pasó a ser obtenido a partir de métodos clonales (Frolich y Platt, Brokaw, Allesbeste) asociados a otras técnicas como la etiolación y el anillado de los brotes. La presente revisión bibliográfica tiene como objetivo abordar los principales métodos de propagación utilizados en aguacate, sus avances y la importancia del mejoramiento genético y de las nuevas investigaciones en la obtención de cultivares de portainjerto y copa que atiendan las demandas del mercado.

No abstract

C. Fassio, R. Cautin, A. G. Perez-Donoso, M. Castro, and C. Bonomelli. Comparative branching order and root anatomy of clonal and seed-grown avocado trees (Persea americana Mill.). Int. J. Agric. Nat. Resour. 134-144. Characterizing roots according to their branching order and anatomy is a useful approach for identifying functional differences within and among root systems. In this study, the root branching order and the anatomy of each root order (stele and cortex area) were examined in two-year-old "Duke 7" avocado (Persea americana Mill.) trees propagated by seed and by clonal techniques. The root systems were found to have three different root orders that exhibited differences in the occurrence of secondary xylem. Fine roots (first-and second-order roots) presented only primary growth, whereas the main roots (third-order roots) exhibited secondary growth. Transverse sections of roots from the different orders showed pentarch, hexarch or heptarch tracheal element distributions. Newly emerged, long, unbranched pioneer roots were observed only in the clonal trees and showed particular anatomical features, such as a larger diameter and a proportionally greater cortex area than other roots, as well as primary growth. Additionally, significant differences were found between clonal and seedling trees in the stele area of third-order roots; clonal propagation resulted in larger stele areas in this type of root. Our results suggest that propagation methods influence the presence of new pioneer roots and the anatomy of third-order roots; clonal root systems branch more extensively than seed-grown root systems and develop a vascular system with a larger transport capacity.

El aguacate (Persea americana Mill.) se encuentra entre los 20 frutales de mayor importancia comercial a nivel mundial, pero su cultivo se encuentra limitado para algunas variedades que son muy sensibles a la salinidad. Debido al aumento de esta limitante en el agua de riego en varias zonas de cultivo, la presente investigación tuvo por objetivo evaluar el efecto del riego con agua salina en plantas de la variedad Hass injertadas sobre UCV7 (una nueva selección de portainjerto clonal de raza Antillana), junto a otros portainjertos de actual uso en Chile, como el tradicional de semilla Nabal (raza Guatemalteca) y el clonal Duke 7 (raza Mexicana), a través de indicadores de crecimiento vegetativo aéreo y de raíces, así como indicadores de nutrimentos. Plantas de un año de edad se establecieron en contenedores, bajo condiciones de invernadero con calefacción y fueron sometidas a riego con tres concentraciones de NaCl: 0.66 mM (testigo con concentración salina en el agua común); 6 mM y 12 mM. Los portainjertos presentaron distintas estrategias frente a este estrés. Duke 7 aumentó el crecimiento vegetativo y también la absorción de nutrimentos, lo que provocó mayor daño foliar (mayor área dañada) por Cl y Na. Tanto Nabal como UCV7 no traslocaron Na a la parte aérea, lo que los haría más tolerantes. UCV7 presentó la menor área foliar dañada frente a condiciones de alta salinidad en el agua de riego, lo que es una notable ventaja en comparación con los resultados obtenidos en Nabal.