Use of Biotechnology for Multiplication of Curcuma longa L. plant during six subcultures

Abstract

The aim of this study was to set a protocol for the in vitro culture of Curcuma longa L. Sprouted bud explants of C. longa L. were explanted on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations of 6-benzyladenine (BA) 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 mg l-1 during six subcultures. The maximum number of multiplied shoots (8.60 and 8.70 shoots explant-1), was obtained in the medium containing 7 mg l −1 BA at 4 th and 5 th subculture with (90 and 100% multiplication frequency) respectively. The optimum BA concentrations for maximum number of multiplication varied across subcultures. The 7 mg l-1 BA concentration at the late subculture 4 th , 5 th and 6 th produce highest values of (number of shoots, longest shoot, number of leaves and fresh weight).The maximum number of roots (6.38 roots explant-1) was induced from 3 mg l −1 IBA. The tallest roots (40.6 and 36.5 cm) were obtained on MS medium supplemented with 1 mg l −1 NAA and 3 mg l −1 IBA. Also, the heaviest fresh weight was obtained from medium containing 2 and 3 mg l −1 IBA and all concentrations of NAA. In vitro plantlets immediately acclimatized to greenhouse conditions, showing 100% survival rates in a peat moss and vermiculite (1:3) medium.