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Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD) - Call for papers!

Embryo and Tissue Culture of Strelitzia Reginae Ait.

(Thailand), Doctor of Philosophy in Horticulture (University of the Philippines Los Baños)

Dissertation Abstract:

Two sets of experiments were conducted to explore the potential of in vitro method for propagation excised embryo and shoot tip of Strelitzia reginae.

The excised embryo germinated readily (7 days) in White's medium without vitamins. Compared to other basal media tested, highly modified Murashige and Skoog's medium (MS) enhanced the growth of seedlings.

With MS basal media, the growth of seedlings from embryos was accelerated when treated with a combination of naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and coconut water. There was synergistic effect of these two substances in terms of enhanced shoot growth and fibrous root formation.

Kinetin (Ki) enhanced the growth of shoot and root. Although benzyl adenine (BA) also enhanced shoot growth, it inhibited root elongation.

Callus formation from shoot tip was induced by sequential culture in media with a combination of BA and NAA, followed by modified Scherek and Hilderbrandt's (SH) medium.

Three types of calluses were found: friable, water-soaked, and surface calluses. All types, however, failed to show sustained growth and differentiation.

The increase in shoot number sometimes occurred in cytokinin treatments. Combination of Ki and 2, 4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2, 4-0) or modified SH and MS medium induced bud formation, but at a low frequency. Half shoot tips could be used successfully for the in vitro multiplication of S. reginae.

Results showed that embryo and tissue culture could be more promising than the other conventional methods of multiplying S. reginae. Embryo culture could induce faster growth and higher germination rate.

The limited success in callus induction and bud proliferation also indicated the possibility of developing a better method of clonal propagation and mass production of this kind of plant in the future.