Effect of VIUSID-Agro on the conversion of somatic embryos of coffee (Coffea arabica L.) cv. Red Caturra rojo-884

A critical factor in the in vitro propagation protocol via somatic embryogenesis of coffee is the survival and growth of plants under ex vitro conditions. The objective of this work was to determine the effect of VIUSID Agro™ during the conversion of somatic embryos of coffee cv. Red Caturra rojo-884 in semi-controlled culture conditions. Two solutions (0.5 and 0.8 mL L-1) of the biostimulant were evaluated on in vitro plant. Applications were done twice daily for the first three days and thereafter once a day from day 7 to 90 days after transplanting. Survival rate at 15 days and morpho-physiological characteristics at 30, 60 and 90 days after transplanting were evaluated. All treatments with VIUSID-Agro™ and the control resulted in 100% survival. The concentration of 0.5 mL L-1 of VIUSID-Agro™ registered the better results in morpho-physiological variables. These results constitute the first report of the use of VIUSID Agro™ on in vitro plant of coffee during acclimatization phase. Key words: Ex vitro acclimatization, coffee, conversion, somatic embryos, VIUSID Agro™.