Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC) (2019) 137:239–247 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-019-01564-z ORIGINAL ARTICLE Efect of sucrose on physiological and biochemical changes of proliferated shoots of Bambusa vulgaris Schrad. Ex Wendl in temporary immersion Yudith García‑Ramírez 1  · Gloria Patricia Barrera 2  · Marisol Freire‑Seijo 1  · Raúl Barbón 1  · Mairenys Concepción‑Hernández 1  · Milady F. Mendoza‑Rodríguez 1  · Sinesio Torres‑García 3 Received: 14 June 2018 / Accepted: 21 January 2019 / Published online: 2 February 2019 © Springer Nature B.V. 2019 Abstract Tissue culture systems have contributed to the massive propagation of bamboos. However, micro-propagated plants show a low percentage of rooting and ex vitro survival due to anatomical and physiological anomalies induced by in vitro factors. This study aims to determine the efect of sucrose on physiological and biochemical changes in Bambusa vulgaris Schrad. Ex Wendl shoots cultured in a temporary immersion system and in plantlets growing under greenhouse conditions. For this purpose, two concentrations of sucrose (20 and 30 g L −1 ) and a control treatment (sucrose-free medium) were used in a rooting culture medium. Our data revealed that the absence of sucrose in the culture medium improved the morpho- physiological, biochemical and anatomical development of the shoots. However, a high sucrose concentration decreased the total chlorophyll content and leaf area in shoots. Additionally, the hydrogen peroxide content and malondialdehyde increased in shoots cultured with 30 g L −1 of sucrose. On the other hand, scanning electron microscopy revealed that leaves of shoots which grow on medium containing 30 g L −1 sucrose displayed anatomical changes in the stomata of plants, whereas those from sucrose-free medium exhibited normal structural development. Finally, shoots cultured without sucrose showed a high survival rate and allowed a better adaptation of plantlets in the greenhouse. The temporary immersion systems combined with culture medium without sucrose ofer new prospects for improving the physiology and biochemistry of plantlets during in vitro to ex vitro transition. Keyword Bamboo · In vitro propagation · Liquid medium · Oxidative stress · Scanning electron microscopy Introduction There is an ever-increasing interest for bamboos worldwide, motivated by ecological constraints and shortages of forest resources (Rebelo and Buckingham 2015). In this sense, in Cuba, bamboo forestry has experimented signifcant changes focus on soils protection (Cordero-Miranda 2010). Natural regeneration of Bambusa vulgaris Schrad. Ex Wendl (B. vul- garis) is afected by very long fowering periods and the seed viability. Besides, the vegetative propagation by the division of rhizomes produces low rooting rates (Mudoi et al. 2013). All these elements limit the commercial production of bam- boo around the world (Singh et al. 2013). According to the previous information, micropropaga- tion of bamboos represents a useful alternative to respond to an increasing demand for reforestation on the national territory (Catasús 2003). In this sense, several propagation protocols have been developed (Sandhu et al. 2017; Gantait et al. 2018). However, they have low rooting rates and ex vitro survival, merely due to anatomical and physiological anomalies induced by a high relative humidity inside the vessel. Additionally, the presence of sucrose as a carbon source in the culture medium which limits the chlorophyll content (Lobo et al. 2015). Communicated by Pamela J. Weathers. * Yudith García-Ramírez yudith@ibp.co.cu 1 Instituto de Biotecnología de las Plantas, Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” de Las Villas, Carretera a Camajuaní km 5.5, 54 830 Santa Clara, Cuba 2 Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria, Kilómetro 14 vía a Mosquera, Bogotá, Colombia 3 Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” de Las Villas, Santa Clara, Cuba