The establishment of efficient plant regeneration protocols is essential for the success and application of in vitro breeding biotechnologies in Citrus. The objective of this work was to verify the effect of 6-benzilaminopurine (BAP) on the in vitro organogenesis of Rangpur lime (Citrus limonia (L.) Osbeck) and 'Pera' sweet orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck), and the effect of cutting the explant on the in vitro organogenesis of 'Valencia' sweet orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck). For Rangpur lime, internodal explants were cultured in MT medium, with 25g.L-1 sucrose and supplemented with different concentrations of BAP (0; 2.5; 5; 7.5; 10 mg.L-1). Epicotyl explants were used for 'Pera' and 'Valencia' sweet oranges. For 'Pera' sweet orange, the explants were cultured in MT medium, with 25g.L-1 sucrose and supplemented with different concentrations of BAP (0; 1; 2; 3; 4 mg.L-1). For 'Valencia' sweet orange, the epicotyl explants were cut in half and cultured on MT medium, with 25 g.L-1 of sucrose and 1 mg.L-1 of BAP. Shoot elongation was accomplished on MT + 25 g.L-1 sucrose + 1 mg.L-1 gibberelic acid (GA3) and rooted on MT + 25 g.L-1 of sucrose + 0,5 g.L-1 of activated charcoal + 1 mg.L-1 NAA. The best results for number of buds was 2.5 mg.L-1 of BAP in Rangpur lime and 1 and 2 mg.L-1 in 'Pera' sweet orange. The cut of the explant in half was favorable to the in vitro organogenesis in 'Valencia' sweet orange, but it was not for rooting.
tissue culture; micropropagation; benzylaminopurine
