Optimizing Green Globular Body Induction for Micropropagation of Microsorum pteropus ‘Windeløv’

Abstract

Microsorum pteropus ‘Windeløv’ is a water fern from Asia commonly used in aquarium landscapes. This study aimed to develop a mass production method through the induction of green globular bodies (GGBs) from leaf explants of M. pteropus. Surface sterilization was performed on adventitious buds on the fronds of M. pteropus ‘Windeløv’ as explants. The results showed that the optimal explant disinfection condition was 1% sodium hypochlorite solution for 20 min, achieving a successful rate of 87.5 ± 9.6%. The most effective GGB induction was achieved with MS medium supplemented with 5.0 mg/L of NAA (1-Naphthaleneaceticacid) and 0.5 mg/L of 6-BA (6-benzylaminopurine), producing the highest number and size of GGBs, with a mean value of 4.0 ± 0.8 GGBs per explant and a diameter of 2.45 ± 0.61 mm after 8 weeks of culture. The regeneration of multiple sporophytes from the GGBs was only observed under hormone-free MS medium, with a mean value of 34.2 ± 7.3 sporophytes per GGB after 6 weeks of culture. Subsequently, rootless and separated sporophytes could be directly transplanted into the aquarium with a 100% survival rate.