Germinación y multiplicación in vitro de Matricaria recutita L: los fenoles totales determinan su germinación

Chamomile ( Matricaria recutita L., Chamomilla recutita L., and Matricaria chamomilla L.) is known for its high content of phenolic compounds that confer anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antimutagenic properties. This study evaluated the percentage of total phenols and germination in five storage periods of M. recutita seeds (5, 31, 75, 96 and 128 days). In addition, the effect of cytokinins (6-Benzyl Amino Purine, BAP and Kinetin) and auxins (α-Naphthalene Acetic Acid, ANA) on in vitro sprouting of this species was evaluated. It was evidenced that the total concentration of phenols decreased from 13.8% to 1.9% in the five storage periods evaluated and that the germination percentages increased from 2.2% at five days to 8.9% at 128 days of storage, showing evidence of a correlation of -0.989 between the germination and the content of total phenols. The best results to induce sprouting (5 shoots/explant) were obtained in the MS culture medium with cytokinins.