In vitro multiplication of sugarcane with different nitrogen and sucrose concentrations

Sugarcane is of great economic importance worldwide. Hence, there is great interest in the development of effi­cient techniques for the production of good quality, homogeneous, disease- and pest-free seedlings. One way to eliminate viruses is through meristem culture. To guarantee success during meristem culture, it is necessary to optimize the components and concentrations of the culture medium. Sucrose is an essential component in the culture medium, serving as a source of carbon and energy for the seedlings. Nitrogen, in turn, is essential in plants because it is a component of biomolecules and countless enzymes. This work evaluates the best combina­tion of nitrogen (75, 100, 125, and 150%) and sucrose (0, 20, 30, and 40 g L -1 ) concentrations in the in vitro multi­plication and development of sugarcane cultivar RB036091. The design was completely randomized, in a factorial scheme with four replicates and five explants per experimental unit. The concentration of 20 g L -1 sucrose with 100% nitrogen, from the original formulation of the MS culture medium, provided a better response in sugarcane multiplication.