F. García Ochoa’s research while affiliated with National Polytechnic Institute and other places

Echinocactus platyacanthus is an endemic cactus of Mexico and, this plant, it is one of the most overexploited cacti, due to food characteristics, because from this cactus it is obtained the sweet soft known as acitron, also this cactus is widely distributed in Mexico, but a management plan has not been created yet, in order to guarantees the in vitro sustainable use. In addition, it is important to note, that this specimen is listed as an extinction species risk. Consequently, the goals in this work were develop a comparative study between in vitro and ex vitro germination; in addition, to know the effects of the vegetal growth regulators for E. platyacanthus with controlled conditions. In this work was obtained 70% of germination after 28 days of cultivation after sowing enploying 50% MS from original concentration, then 60% using black soil and 46% with black soil + agrolite. Regard to growth regulators, the cytokinin BAP or auxin ANA with 0.5 mgL-1 concentration the in vitro culture acelerated the growth of apical and basal explants with vigorous seedlings with height size up to 1.8 cm, and diameter size of 2.25 cm, with fresh weight of 2.3 g in a period of 70 days of cultivation after sowing; consequently, the use of both protocols of germination and growth offers one alternative in short time for the production of vigorous seedling for later establishment of this specimen in greenhouse for their future consumption and acitron production, and contributing to specimens in situ protection.