In vitro culture of petioles and intact leaves of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris)

Methods are described for obtaining explants which produce adventitious shoots, for subsequent stimulation of rooting and then transplanting using six commercial sugar-beet cultivars. The rate of adventitious shoot regeneration from petioles or intact leaf explants was affected by the source of donor plants, cytokinin type (BAP or Kin) and concentration and cultivar. Increasing the sucrose concentration of the medium from 3% to 5% or 8% had no apparent effect. Adventitious shoots could be produced directly from callus formed on the base of the petioles. In general adventitious shoots were produced on either the concave surface of the petiole or from the callus, occasionally simultaneously on both, and on the convex surface of the petiole in intact leaf explants. The highest rooting rate with 3% sucrose and 1.0 mg l^–1 NAA was obtained using half-strength MS medium. There was considerable variation in the propagules from petioles or callus indicating that this system may provide valuable somaclonal variation.Abbreviations BAP benzylaminopurine - IBA indole-3-butyric acid - GA₃ gibberellic acid - MS Murashige and Skoog medium - NAA naphthaleneacetic acid Author for correspondence     

In vitro propagation of pummelo (Citrus grandis L. osbeck)

Summary Several experiments were carried out to develop protocols for the in vitro propagation of pummelo (Citrus grandis L. Osbeck) using shoot-tip explants from seedlings. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with various concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) and thidiazuron (TDZ), singly or in combination with α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), was used to determine the rate of shoot proliferation. The response of explants to all concentrations of TDZ was very poor. After 6 wk culture, the most adventitious shoots per explant (average 5.2) were obtained on medium supplemented with 1.8 μM BA. NAA with cytokinin in the medium did not improve the rate of shoot multiplication significantly. Addition of 5.8 μM gibberellic acid in shoot-proliferation medium during the second subculture improved shoot elongation significantly. Shoot multiplication increased 3.5-fold in each successive subculture. NAA was superior to indolebutyric acid for in vitro root induction. Over 75% of the shoots developed roots when transferred to half-strength MS medium with 1.3, 2.7, or 5.4 μM NAA.     

Direct and indirect shoot and bulblet regeneration from cultured leaf explants of Lilium pumilum,an endangered species

Alternative methods of in vitro cloning that involve both adventitious (direct) and callus intermediate (indirect) pathways were investigated for the endangered species Lilium pumilum. Plantlet regeneration was obtained from leaf explants, cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with various combinations of auxins and cytokinins at different concentrations. About 30% of the explants directly formed adventitious shoots on MS medium containing 8.88 μM 6-benzyladenine (BA) and 2.69 μM α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). For production of regenerable callus, callus formation followed by shoot induction was best when explants were initially cultured on MS medium supplemented with 9.05 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Regenerable calli were yellow or purple and readily regenerated shoots when subcultured onto MS medium containing 2.22 μM BA and 1.61 μM NAA. About 78% of the calli were able to produce adventitious shoots. Shoots were rooted on half-strength MS medium supplemented with 1.34 μM NAA and were successfully acclimatized to greenhouse conditions. This report describes an efficient method for the in vitro multiplication of whole plants from leaf explants of the endangered species L. pumilum.     

Micropropagation and assessment of genetic stability in Celastrus paniculatus: An endangered medicinal plant

A highly efficient protocol for in vitro regeneration of an indigenous, endangered medicinal plant Celastrus paniculatus was achieved using nodal explants. Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 0.1 mg/L naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) showed maximum percentage of shoot multiplication (83.4%) with 8.2 shoots/explants. Maximum rooting of 73.3% with 4.8 roots/shoot was achieved on half-strength MS media supplemented with 0.5 mg/L indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and the percentage of survival was 91% after acclimatization. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) marker study confirmed genetic stability for in vitro raised explants by showing 100% monomorphism. High multiplication rate associated with genetic stability ensure the efficacy of the present in vitro clonal propagation protocol of this important medicinal plant species.     

An efficient plant regeneration system for Mucuna pruriens L. (DC.) using cotyledonary node explants

Summary The purpose of this study was to develop an efficient micropropagation system for Mucuna pruriens, an important medicinal plant in India. A range of cytokinins was investigated for multiple shoot regeneration with cotyledonary node explants from 7-d-old aseptic seedlings. Of all the cytokinins, 6-benzyladenine (BA), kinetin (KIN) and 2-isopentenyl adenine (2-iP) tested in Murashige and Skoog medium (MS), BA was the most effective and 5.0 μM was found to be optimum for inducing maximum shoots. Medium types, medium strength and pH were also investigated for induction and proliferation of shoots. The highest efficiency of shoot proliferation was observed in 5.0 μM BA and 0.5 μM α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) in half-strength MS medium at pH 5.8. The best condition for rooting was half-strength MS medium solidified with agar and with 2.0 μM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). After rooting, the plantlets were transferred to plastic pots filled with sterile soilrite where 90% grew and all exhibited normal development.     

Plant regeneration from phyllode explants of Acacia crassicarpa via organogenesis

In this paper we report the establishment of Acacia crassicarpa regeneration through organogenesis. We used phyllode (leaf) explants excised from 60-day-old in vitro seedlings for green compact nodule induction and, tested Murashige and Skoog (MS) media supplemented with various concentrations of 1-phenyl-3-(thiadiazol-5-yl) urea (thidiazuron) (TDZ) and α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Under the optimized condition, green compact nodules and adventitious shoots were induced in 10 and 40 days, respectively, on the medium containing a combination of 0.5 mg l⁻¹ TDZ and 0.5 mg l⁻¹ NAA. This medium also yielded the highest rate (56%) of adventitious shoots forming from the nodules. Efficient shoot elongation was achieved by transferring the clusters of adventitious shoots to medium containing 0.1 mg l⁻¹ TDZ within 2 months. The elongated adventitious shoots were rooted at a rate of 96.5% on half-strength MS medium with 0.5 mg l⁻¹ 3-indolebutyric acid (IBA) in 1 month. Rooted plantlets were hardened and successfully established in soil with an 80% survival rate. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing a detailed protocol for regeneration through organogenesis using phyllodes as explants for A. crassicarpa.     

In vitro propagation of Cassia angustifolia through leaflet and cotyledon derived calli

High efficiency shoot regeneration was achieved through leaflet and cotyledon derived calli in Cassia angustifolia - an important medicinal plant. Dark brown compact callus was induced at the cut ends of the explants on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium augmented with 1 μM N⁶-benzyladenine (BA) + 1 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Such callus pieces on transfer to cytokinins (BA or kinetin) supplemented medium differentiated shoots within 10 – 15 d. Of the two cytokinins, 5 μM BA was optimum for eliciting morphogenic response in 83.33 and 70.83 % cultures with an average of 4.16 ± 0.47 and 3.70 ± 0.56 shoots in cotyledon and leaflet derived calli, respectively. The addition of 0.5 μM α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) to MS + 5 μM BA further elevated the maximum average number of shoots to 12.08 ± 1.04 and 5.37 ± 0.52 for cotyledon and leaflet calli, respectively. The excised shoots were transferred to a rooting medium containing either IAA (indole-3-acetic acid), IBA (indole-3-butyric acid) or NAA. Nearly 95 % shoots developed an average of 5.4 ± 0.41 roots on half strength MS medium supplemented with 10 μM IBA.     

Plant regeneration through the direct induction of shoot buds from petiole explants of Jatropha curcas: a biofuel plant

An efficient and reproducible method for the regeneration of Jatropha curcas plants has been developed. The method employed direct induction of shoot buds from petiole explants, without the formation of an intervening callus using a Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations of thidiazuron (TDZ). The best induction of shoot buds (58.35%) and the number of shoot buds per explant (10.10) were observed when in vitro petiole explants were placed horizontally on MS medium supplemented with 2.27 µM TDZ after 6 weeks. The induced shoot buds were transferred to MS medium containing 10 µM kinetin (Kn), 4.5 µM 6-benzyl aminopurine (BAP) and 5.5 µM α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) for shoot proliferation. The proliferated shoots could be elongated on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of BAP, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), NAA and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). MS medium supplemented with 2.25 µM BAP and 8.5 µM IAA was found to be the best combination for shoot elongation and 3.01–3.91 cm elongation was achieved after 6 weeks. However, significant differences in plant regeneration and shoot elongation were observed among the genotypes studied. The orientation (horizontal or vertical) and source (in vitro or in vivo) of explants also significantly influenced plant regeneration. The elongated shoots could be rooted on half-strength MS medium supplemented with 2% sucrose, different concentrations and combinations of IBA, IAA and NAA, and 0.25 mg L⁻¹ activated charcoal. Half-strength MS medium supplemented with 2% sucrose, 15 µM IBA, 5.7 µM IAA, 5.5 µM NAA and 0.25 mg L⁻¹ activated charcoal was found to be the best for promoting rooting. The rooted plants could be established in soil with more than 90% survival.     

Plantlets from somatic callus tissue of the East Indian Rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia Roxb.)

Callus-mediated shoot bud formation was demonstrated in Dalbergia latifolia Roxb. (East Indian Rosewood). Cultures were raised from shoot explants of six year-old plants on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and benzyladenine (BA). A sequential treatment of callus with increasing BA levels and decreasing NAA ensured shoot bud induction. Rooting of shoots was achieved by a three-step culture procedure involving 1) White's(W) liquid medium containing indoleacetic acid (IAA), naphthaleneacetic acid and indolebutyric acid (IBA), 2) half-strength MS agar-solidified medium with charcoal (0.25%) and 3) half-strength MS liquid medium.Abbreviations BA Benzyladenine - IAA Indoleacetic acid - IBA Indolebutyric acid - MS Murashige and Skoog - NAA a-naphthaleneacetic acid - PVP Polyvinylpyrrolidone - W White's medium - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid     

In Vitro Multiplication of Paedaria foetida L — A Rare Medicinal Plant

Paedaria foetida L, which has great medicinal value is facing danger of extinction. For its conservation, in vitro multiplication may prove one of the best techniques. Micropropagation of P. foetida has been achieved through the culture of nodal explants. The explants produced shoots on MS medium with 0.8% agar. This medium, however, caused high degree of browning of the explants and death of sprouted shoots. Agar free liquid MS medium with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) proved better. Maximum shoot proliferation, free from callus and vitrification but with poor rooting could be obtained in liquid MS medium with PVP (0.8%), NAA (0.5 mg l^?1) and BA (2.0 mg l^?1). The best rooting occurred on semisolid MS medium containing 0.8% agar and 0.5 mg l^?1 IBA.     

Micropropagation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cotoneaster wilsonii</Emphasis> Nakai—a rare endemic ornamental plant

A simple and efficient micropropagation system was developed for Cotoneaster wilsonii through node and shoot tip explants obtained from mature field-grown plants. Of the two explants, node explants were found to be the most effective for axillary shoot proliferation. The highest frequency of shoot induction was achieved when nodal explants were incubated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 0.5 mg L⁻¹ thidiazuron (TDZ) and 0.1 mg L⁻¹ α- naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) with an average of 34 shoots per explant. The microshoots were separated from the multiple shoots and subcultured on MS medium supplemented with 3% (w/v) sucrose and 0.8% (w/v) agar for further shoot growth. Maximum rooting was obtained on half-strength MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg L⁻¹ indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). The in vitro-grown plantlets were successfully acclimatized in a glasshouse with 98% of survival. High concentrations of TDZ (1.5–2.0 mg L⁻¹) and repeated subcultures resulted hyperhydric shoots. Supplementation of the culture medium with silicon significantly reduced the induction of hyperhydric shoots. Increasing silicon concentration significantly decreased malondialdehyde content of the regenerated shoots. Data indicate that addition of silicon to the culture medium can effectively control hyperhydricity.     

Shoot initiation and multiplication from a mature tree of Terminalia arjuna roxb

Summary This study describes a protocol for the regeneration of complete plantlets of Terminalia arjuna from nodal explants of mature trees. Shoot multiplication from nodal explants was achieved by culturing on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing different concentrations of 6-benzyladenine (BA), thidiazuron or kinetin, or BA in combination with &#x03B1;-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). The best shoot multiplication response was obtained from nodal explants grown on modified MS (half-strength major salts and Fe-EDTA) medium containing 4.44 &#x03BC;M BA and 0.53 &#x03BC;M NAA. Seasonal variations significantly affected the proliferation potential of nodal explants and best proliferation was observed from explants collected during April to May. Microshoots were rooted on half-strength MS medium with 4.92 &#x03BC;M IBA. The rooted shoots were acclimatized successfully.     

In vitro organogenesis from leaf and transverse thin cell layer derived callus cultures of Talinum triangulare (Jacq.) Willd.

Talinum triangulare is an important medicinal herb used traditionally in the treatment of various diseases. The present study was intended to develop a rapid and efficient protocol for indirect organogenesis from leaf discs and transverse thin cell layer (tTCL) of internodal explants of T. triangulare. Best callusing response (100 %) was observed with tTCL explants on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 4.44 μM 6-benzyl amino purine and 5.37 μM α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). High frequency shoot regeneration (96.67 %) was obtained from tTCL derived calli on MS medium supplemented with a combination of 0.45 μM thidiazuron and 0.27 μM NAA, by producing 9.20 ± 0.35 shoots with a shoot length of 2.74 ± 0.03 cm. In vitro rooting of the microshoots was recorded on half-strength MS medium containing 2.46 μM indole-3-butyric acid by eliciting 15.20 ± 0.27 roots with a length of 4.25 ± 0.11 cm. The rooted shoots were acclimatized on garden soil, sand and coco pith (1:1:3 v/v) planting substrate. The plantlets were successfully established under field conditions with 100 % survival rate. The hardened plants exhibited homogeneity and no observable morphological variations were detected among the regenerants and the mother plants of T. triangulare.     

Rapid in vitro multiplication and ex vitro rooting of Rotula aquatica Lour., a rare rhoeophytic woody medicinal plant

Single medium-based efficient protocols for large-scale multiplication of the rare woody aromatic medicinal plant Rotula aquatica Lour. by means of axillary bud multiplication and indirect organogenesis were established using Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. There were no significant differences with respect to the induction of shoots per node or callus and roots per shoot on media prepared either with tap water and commercial sugar or those prepared with double distilled water and tissue culture-grade sucrose. The most effective medium for axillary bud proliferation was MS medium fortified with 1.0 mg l(-1 )N(6)-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 0.5 mg l(-1 )indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), on which shoots were induced at the rate of 15 per node. The excision of node segments from the in vitro-derived shoots and their subsequent culture on medium supplemented with same concentrations of BAP and IBA facilitated enhanced axillary bud proliferation. Callus that developed from the lower cut end of the node explants induced shoots during subculture on half-strength MS medium with 1.0 mg l(-1 )BAP and 0.5 mg l(-1 )kinetin. The shoots developed rooted best on half-strength MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg l(-1 )naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Rooted shoots, following acclimation in the greenhouse, were successfully transferred to field conditions, and 80% of the plantlets survived. When the basal ends of shoots harvested from multiplication medium were dipped in an NAA (0.5 mg l(-1)) solution for 25 days, a mean of 5.6 roots per shoot developed; the transfer to small pots facilitated the survival of 75% of the rooted shoots. Ex vitro rooting by direct transfer of the shoots from the multiplication medium to the greenhouse resulted in a 65% survival. Commercial sugar and tap water and ex vitro rooting make the protocol economically advantageous. About 750 plantlets were procured in a 3-month period starting from a single node explant.     

Adventitious rooting of Jatropha curcas L. is stimulated by phloroglucinol and by red LED light

An efficient root induction system has been established for in vitro-regenerated Jatropha curcas L. shoots. Callus formation on shoots transferred to auxin containing medium was found to be a prominent and recurrent problem for rooting of in vitro-cultivated J. curcas. In particular, the type of auxins and cytokinins applied in the culture media were shown to strongly influence the severity of callus formation. Shoots cultivated on meta-methoxytopolin riboside (MemTR) were free of callus and produced elongated stems and well-developed leaves in comparison to the cytokinins benzyl adenine, zeatin, and thidiazuron. Subsequent root induction experiments were performed with shoots precultured on MemTR-containing medium. Shoots were excised and transferred to Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and α-naphtaleneacetic acid (NAA). The induction of excessive callus formation was avoided only on IBA-containing medium. The optimum rooting medium with good root induction (35%) and 1.2 roots per shoot contained half-strength MS salts supplemented with 2.5 μM IBA. The same medium supplemented with 0.25% (w/v) activated charcoal produced 46% rooted shoots. Further improvement of rooting was obtained by transferring in vitro grown shoots to woody plant medium containing phloroglucinol (PG). In the presence of 2.5 μM IBA and 238 μM PG, 83% of the shoots rooted with on average 3.1 roots per shoot. We also analyzed the impact of light quality on the rooting capacity of Jatropha in vitro grown shoots. In general, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) light sources were less efficient for root induction. Red LED light provided the most favorable growth conditions, inducing a rooting response in 65% of the shoots, which produced on average 5.5 roots per shoot. These results indicate that adventitious rooting in J. curcas is under control of photoreceptors and that optimal rooting requires fine-tuning of the salt concentration, auxin, and cytokinin balance and application of synergistic compounds.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In vitro</Emphasis> propagation of an endangered plant species, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thermopsis turcica</Emphasis> (Fabaceae)

This report deals with micropropagation of the critically endangered and endemic Turkish shrub, Thermopsis turcica using callus, root and cotyledonary explants. Callus cultures were initiated from root and cotyledon explants on MS medium supplemented with 0.5–20 μM NAA or 2,4-D. The root explants were found to be better in terms of quick responding and callusing percentages as compared to the cotyledons. Organogenic callus production with adventitious roots and shoots were obtained on MS medium with only NAA. The calli obtained with NAA, root and cotyledonary explants were cultured with BA and kinetin (2–8 μM) alone or in combination with a low level (0.5 μM) of 2,4-D or NAA. The best regeneration of shoots from root explants was observed on hormone-free MS medium. NAA with BA or kinetin in the medium improved shoot induction from the calli obtained with NAA. Maximum percentage of shoots (93.3%), maximum number of shoots (6.2) and maximun length of shoots (8.22 cm) were achieved from cotyledonary explants at 4 μM BA and 0.5 μM NAA. The presence of 0.5 μM or higher levels of 2,4-D in shoot induction medium inhibited the regeneration in T. turcica explants. 83% of in vitro rooting was attained on pulsed-IBA treated shoots. The regenerated plants with well developed shoots and roots were successfully acclimatized. Application of this study’s results has the potential to conserve T. turcica from extinction.     

Direct shoot regeneration from leaf explants of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rosa damascena</Emphasis> Mill.

Summary A protocol for in vitro propagation using direct induction of shoot buds from leaf explants of in vitro-raised shoots of Rosa damascena var. Jwala is reported. The present study is the first report on direct shoot regeneration in scented roses. Elite plants raised from nodal explants and maintained for over 2yr in vitro on a static liquid shoot multiplication Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 5.0 μM benzyladenine (BA) and 3% sucrose were used. Petioles from fully developed young leaves, obtained after 4 wk of pruning of old shoots, were found to be ideal for regeneration of shoots. Initially the explants were cultured in an induction medium [half-strength MS+3% sucrose+6.8μM thidiazuron+0.27 μM α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA)+17.7 μM AgNO₃] and subsequently transferred to the regeneration medium (MS+2.25 μM BA+0.054 μM NAA) after 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35d. The highest shoot regeneration response (69%) was recorded when shoots were kept in the induction medium for 21 d and later transferred to regeneration medium. Histological studies revealed direct formation of shoot buds without the intervening callus phase. In vitro rooting of micro-shoots was accomplished within 2wk on half-strength MS liquid medium supplemented with 10.0 μM IBA and 3% sucrose for 1 wk in the dark and later transferred to hormone-free medium and kept in the light. Plantlets, remaining in the latter medium for 5–6 wk when transferred to soil, showed 90% survival.     

In vitro rooting of sentang shoots (Azadirachta excelsa L.) and acclimatization of the plantlets

Summary In vitro proliferated sentang shoots were cultured onto half-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing combinations of 1-naphthyleneacetic acid (NAA) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Sentang shoots were unable to root in the absence of both auxins. A combination of 0.5 mg NAA per and 1 mg IBA per 1 induced the most shoots to form roots. With the addition of 2.5 g activated charcoal per 1 into half-strength MS medium containing 0.5 mg NAA per 1 and 1 mg IBA per 1, roots were more numerous and longer. Substances like gelrite and phloroglucinol and sugar content which would commonly influence in vitro rooting were inhibitory to adventitious root formation of sentang. Maximal rooting of 100% was achieved in “Culture Pack,” made of fluorocarbon polymer film containing charcoal-free medium with 0.5 mg NAA per 1 and 1 mg IBA per 1. Rooted shoots were acclimatized for 4 wk. Overall survival was 80%. These findings suggest the use of Culture Pack as the culture vessels, with 0.5 mg NAA per 1 and 1 mg IBA per 1 in half-stength MS media to effectively induce roots in sentang shoots.     

Influence of auxins in direct <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> morphogenesis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Euphorbia nivulia</Emphasis>, a lectinaceous medicinal plant

Summary Somatic embryo (bipolar) or shoot (monopolar) morphogenesis in mesophyll cells of Euphorbia nivulia Buch.-Ham in vitro was dependent on the type of auxin supplementing Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing benzyladenine. Direct in vitro morphogenesis, i.e., organogenesis, and somatic embryogenesis were significantly influenced by seasonal growth of the donor plant, explant position (proximal, mid, and distal), and light. Explants collected in march/April were superior to July/August material. Proximal explants underwent morphogenesis more readily than mid- and tip-derived explants. Incubation in the light favored morphogenesis while darkness was inhibitory. Kinetin (Kn) was also inhibitory to morphogenesis. MS medium enriched with different levels of N⁶-benzyladenine (BA) alone, or in combination with α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) or indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), induced adventitious shoots directly. Explants collected in March/April cultured on medium with 13.3 μM BA and 2.69 μM NAA developed the highest number of shoots, a mean of 15.2 shoots per proximal explant. Developed shoots rooted the best on half-strength MS medium with 2.46 μM indole-3-butyric acid, which developed a mean of 5.2 roots per shoot. Rooted healthy shoots could be transplanted to small pots, with an 80% survival rate. Addition of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2.4-D) to BA-supplemented medium was obligatory to develop somatic embryos. MS medium containing 2.26 μM 2,4-D and 4.44 μM BA induced a mean of 44.8 somatic embryos per proximal explant. The embryos passed through distinct stages of embryogenesis, namely globular, heart, torpedo, and early cotyledonary. The embryos (88%) underwent maturation on half-strength MS medium with 2.89 μM gibberellic acid (GA₃), and its subsequent transfer on half-strength MS basal medium in light conditions facilitated 80% conversion of embryos to plantlets. Direct shoots or embryos were originated from the mesophyll cells. Somatic embryo development was concurrent with the independent origin of vasculature in the bulbous basal portion. The survival rate of embryo-derived plants was 90%.     

Liquid culture for efficient micropropagation of Wasabia Japonica (MIQ.) matsumura

Summary An efficient protocol for in vitro propagation of the valuable medicinal plant, Wasabia japonica (Miq.) Matsumura is described through shoot tip proliferation and direct regeneration. Multiple shoots were induced from shoort tips cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) semi-solid medium containing various concentrations (0.5–50 μM) of N⁶-benzyladenine (BA), thidiazuron, kinetin, and zeatin. A comparison was made on shoot multiplication between semi-solid and liquid culture media. Well-developed shoots were obtained using full-strength MS semi-solid medium containing 5.0 μM BA. However, the greatest shoot proliferation was achieved on either full- or half-strength MS liquid media supplemented with 5.0 μM BA for 4 wk (15.3±0.9 and 15.0±0.7 shoots per explant, respectively), and on half-strength MS liquid medium for 6 wk (25.8±1.3 shoots per explant) in culture. In contrast, the maximum number of shoots per explant on full-strength MS semi-solid medium was achieved with either 5.0 μM BA (10.4±0.6 shoots per explant) or 10.0 μM kinetin (10.9±0.8 shoots per explant). Fresh weight of explants and length of shoots derived from full-strength MS liquid medium (1055±77 mg and 34.2±1.0 mm, respectively) were significantly higher than those derived from full-strength MS semisolid medium (437.6±17.3 mg and 15.4±0.7 mm, respectively). Quarter-strength MS liquid medium had no significant difference in shoot proliferation when compared to quarter-strength MS semi-solid medium. Elongated shoots were separated and rooted on half-strength MS semi-solid media fortified with 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), or indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) ranging from 0.1 to 10.0 μM. Root formation was greatest with IBA when compared with IAA and NAA. One hundred percent of shoots were rooted on half-strength MS medium with 5.0 μM IBA, while vigorous roots were obtained with 10.0 μM IBA. Micropropagated plantlets were successfully established in soil with 95% survival rate after heardening.