MICROPROPAGATION OF AGAVE (Agave potatorum Zucc.) THROUGH DIRECT ORGANOGENESIS

Populations of Agave potatorum Zucc. have been overexploited from their habitat for the commercial production of mezcal, a traditional Mexican liquor. Since micropropagation is the only method for cloning selected genotypes of this species, this study aimed to establish an efficient protocol for the in vitro propagation of A. potatorum using individual shoots. During the propagation stage, we evaluated the interaction between different concentrations of the cytokinin benzylaminopurine (BAP: 0, 1.5, and 3.0 mg L-1) and the auxin indole acetic acid (IAA: 0, 1.5, and 3.0 mg L-1). Additionally, we evaluated the interaction between different concentrations of the auxins naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA: 0, 1.5, and 3.0 mg L-1) and IAA (0, 1.5, and 3.0 mg L-1) during the in vitro rooting stage. In the propagation stage, the highest number of shoots was obtained with the combinations of 3.0 mg L-1 BAP + 3.0 mg L-1 IAA, 1.5 mg L-1 BAP + 3.0 mg L-1 IAA, and 3.0 mg L-1 BAP + 1.5 mg L-1 IAA, which yielded 9.87, 9.73, and 9.73 shoots per explant, respectively. In the rooting stage, the best shoot development was observed in the control treatment and when only 3.0 mg L-1 IAA was supplemented. Finally, after the rooting stage, plantlets were acclimatized and grown in the field, yielding a 98-100 % survival rate. In conclusion, the propagation protocol proposed in this study results in propagules suitable for establishment in the field.