In vitro growth and development of Maranta leuconeura (cv. Kerchoviana) as affected by medium gelation and pH value

摘要

Aseptic cultures of Maranta leuconeura were established from shoot-tip explants. They were initiated on solid Murashige and Skoog (MS)-basal medium supplemented with benzyl-adenine (BA, 5 mg/l) and agar (6 mg/l) [starting medium]. Every 6 weeks, themedium was freshly exchanged until the onset of proliferation (ca. 6 months). Thereafter, four subcultures were made in liquid multiplication medium containing BA (5 mg/l) and the produced shootlets were cultured in similar media having different levelsof gelling agents and pH. Results showed superior growth and development in liquid medium and significant differences between mean values of moSt treatments. Regardless of control (liquid medium); (1) agar and gelrite (gel) applied at 5 and 1.5 g/l respectively, induced the highest values of growth and development of both root and shoot and (2) adding agar plus gel at the rate of 3 + 1 g/l led to the best growth and development of shoot, but rooting response was more pronounced at 5 +- 0.5 g/l. Among pH values, pH 5.7 resulted in the maximum multiplication rate, shoot strength and leaf differentiation, while shoot elongation and percentage of rooting were evidently enhanced by pH 6.2.