Protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) of Dendrobium orchids are emerging as a potential source of valuable secondary metabolites. This study examined the effect of four additives namely 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), kinetin, thidiazuron (TDZ), and activated charcoal (AC) used in culture medium on genetic variability in PLBs of Dendrobium Sabin Blue. Nine ( 9) ISSR primers and eleven (11) DAMD primers were used to assess the genetic variability of PLBs that were subcultured over a period of two years. We confirmed that the use of kinetin in culture medium for two years resulted in the highest rate of somaclonal variation in PLBs. On the other hand, TDZ and activated charcoal registered the lowest genetic variability in PLBs. The findings of this study suggest the importance of selecting additives used in the culture medium to maintain stable genetic lines of PLBs. We recommend that the assessment of somaclonal variations should be performed for long term maintenance of tissue cultures.

Solanum melongena L. commonly known as the eggplant or brinjal comes from the family of Solanaceae, sharing the same ancestor with the tomato and potato. It is an economically important crop worldwide, being well studied for its medicinal properties, nutritional values and its role as an alternative model plant. The eggplant fruit has been previously used for treatments of various diseases such as bronchitis, asthma, arthritis and diabetes as well as its nutritive properties that are beneficial to the human diet. Plant transformation studies on the eggplant have been widely done for the production of transgenic eggplants harbouring genes that are beneficial for optimal plant growth and fruit production. Shoot induction is an essential step required for the successful regeneration of transformed plant tissues and therefore is an essential pre-requisite in Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The local eggplant cv. Bulat Putih is a local cultivar of eggplant in Malaysia with white and round fruits making it a potential model plant colour pigment accumulation studies in fruit crops. The current work aims to investigate the shoot induction potential of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and Kinetin from cotyledon explants of eggplant cv. Bulat Putih. Results indicated that both BAP and Kinetin were able to induce the regeneration of callus from cotyledon explants. On the other hand, Kinetin at the concentration of 2.0 mg/L successfully induced shoots at the value of 1.50 ± 0.22 shoots per explant, whereas BAP alone did not trigger any formation of shoots. This study indicated that kinetin alone is sufficient to induce shoots in eggplant cv. Bulat Putih without the presence of BAP.