Micropropagation and traditional cytogenetic analysis in <i>Tradescantia orchidophylla</i>

<blockquote><p dir="ltr">In the Professional Application Project (PAP) “Micropropagation and Traditional Cytogenetic Analysis in <i>Tradescantia orchidophylla</i>,” conducted at CIATEJ, Zapopan unit, a traditional cytogenetic analysis was performed using metaphases from greenhouse-grown specimens. Twelve chromosomes per cell were identified, and an ideogram was constructed based on their total length (CL), grouped in pairs. The main symmetry indices obtained were a TF% of 43.45, a Stebbins index of 1A (highly symmetrical), and an AsK% of 56.55, suggesting a highly symmetrical chromosome complement. Although eleven chromosomes were classified as metacentric and one as submetacentric (4A), this assignment requires confirmation due to possible overlaps in the metaphase image. Barocio-Ramos (2024) previously reported a chromosome number of 12 and proposed a generally metacentric morphology, which is consistent with these results.</p></blockquote><blockquote><p dir="ltr">In parallel, four in vitro micropropagation strategies were evaluated: seed germination, zygotic embryogenesis, direct organogenesis, and axillary bud proliferation. Only one root was obtained through direct organogenesis (rhizogenesis) and three single shoots from axillary buds under in vitro conditions. Zygotic embryogenesis and seed germination showed no response by the end of the project. The main cause of viability loss in organogenesis and axillary bud proliferation was the presence of a single contaminant fungus detected in all culture vessels. This work provides novel data for the cytogenetic study and in vitro propagation of this Mexican endemic species.</p></blockquote><p></p>