# Response to In Vitro Micropropagation of Plants with Different Degrees of Variegation of the Commercial Gymnocalycium cv. Fancy (Cactaceae)

## TL;DR

This study develops methods to propagate a variegated cactus using different plant parts and hormones, improving the production of colorful shoots.

## Contribution

A new protocol for in vitro propagation of variegated cacti using explant type and cytokinin combinations is proposed.

## Key findings

- Central discs treated with 1 µM TDZ produced the best shoot results.
- Variegation levels correlate with shoot color and explant productivity.
- Variegated shoots suggest potential for new cultivar development.

## Abstract

This study aims to establish efficient in vitro propagation protocols for Gymnocalycium cv. Fancy, an ornamental cactus with variegated variants, by evaluating the effects of cytokinin type and explant source on the organogenic response. Plants with different degrees of variegation (0–100%) were classified by size to obtain different explant types (apices, central discs, epicotyls, and hypocotyls). The effects of 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP, 8 µM), Kinetin (KIN, 4 µM), and Thidiazuron (TDZ, 1 µM) were assessed on shoot production, callus formation, and rhizogenesis. Additionally, we studied the relationship between initial plant variegation and the productivity of the variegated shoots. The best shoot production results were obtained for central discs treated with 1 µM TDZ. Furthermore, a correlation was observed between the activated areole type (green, mixed, or fully colored) and shoot color percentage, enabling precise explant selection. The appearance of differently colored shoots confirms the potential for selecting new lines from this cultivar too. These findings hold significant potential not only for the breeding and propagation of ornamental cacti but also for the cultivation of other edible cacti and their relatives.