Análise da diversidade genética entre genótipos do gênero Plectranthus

Abstract

Medicinal plants are widely used, therefore they are important sources of natural chemical products. However, they can present problems in their use with regard to quality and to genetic identity of the vegetal material. Molecular techniques contribute in the identification of species through the construction of fingerprints, whereas the tissue culture has important hole for providing massive production of plants, free of pathogenic agents and genetically uniforms. Plectranthus includes species that are commonly know as boldo for having anti-dyspeptics and analgesic properties, and stimulant of digestion. The aim of this work was to evaluate the genetic diversity among four species of Plectranthus genus, through RAPD technique and quantitative analysis of their essential oils and to verify the in vitro micropropagation. The DNA extraction and amplification of four Plectranthus species (P. grandis, P. barbatus, P. neochilus e P. amboinicus) was carried out by RAPD. The essential oil of these species was extracted by hidrodestilation. For the establishment of axillaries buds and meristems of P. grandis, P. barbatus and P. neochilus, MS and MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg L-1 of BAP, 0.01 mg L-1 of ANA and 0.1 mg L-1 of GA3, were used respectively. As alternative medium for the establishment of axillaries buds of P. grandis and P. barbatus, the MS and WPM medium were used complete and with ¾ of the concentration of their salts, combined with 30 and 50 g L-1 of sucrose. Higher genetic similarity was observed between species P. neochilus and P. amboinicus (80%), followed by P. grandis and P. barbatus (77%). Regarding the essential oil concentration, the P. neochilus presented higher value (0.43% b.s.), compared with the P. grandis with lower values (0.09% b.s.). After 40 days of culture, the P. neochilus was the species with better multiplication in MS medium, while for P. grandis and P. barbatus the alternative medium WPM¾ with 30 g L-1 of sucrose presented better condition for the development of both species. The variability detected by RAPD and the diversity of answers obtained during in vitro multiplication, allowed a clear separation among the four analyzed species.