Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) at the regenarion of unripe berry explants (Vaccinium meridionale Swartz)

Abstract

The unripe berry (Vaccinium meridionale Swartz) is acknowledged at the Colombian Cundiboyacense Plateau, as a blueberry which belongs to the Ericáceae family. It is a promising specie of great interest, because it is an important source of sugars, anti-oxidants, Complex B and C vitamins, net minerals of Potassium, Calcium, and Phosphorus, at its fruits. However, this plant faces difficulties regarding its sexual, and asexual reproduction. Despite its fruits contain a high number of seeds, the germination processes, and development until the phenological stage of maturity are slow, and uncertain for its production. Likewise, its asexual propagation by cutting and/or layering displays low root penetration. Despite this, studies have not been carried out about this propagation in vitro of this specie. Thus, an alternative for the blue-berry-explant regeneration is the micro-propagation in the laboratory, using the Aloe Vera gel (Aloe barbadensis Miller), since it has tried at medicinal and fruit plants, obtaining good results because it enhances the growth, the cellular regeneration, the auxinic activity, the synthetic regulation, and provides essential mineral elements in culture medium, besides of in-vitro root penetration. A literature review is done in this article about the aspects related to the potential use of the Aloe Vera gel, for the unripe berry explants regeneration.