Abstract

Curcuma zedoaria and Zingiber zerumbet plantlets could be micropropagated via induction of multiple shoots from in vitro shoot explants using different culture systems such as the agar-gelled medium cultures, shake flask system and temporary immersion system (TIS). The immersion period in TIS did not influence shoot multiplication rates of both species. However, proliferation medium (MS plus 0.5 mg/L BA and 0.5 mg/L IBA) supplemented with different sucrose concentration affected the production of multiple shoots but did not affect the fresh and dried shoot biomass for both species when using TIS. The TIS was able to eliminate hyperhydricity problem encountered when using the shake flask system. However, all the in vitro plantlets of both species produced by the three culture systems survived and grew normally with no morphological changes after acclimatization. This study indicated that TIS was the best choice of in vitro propagation technique for production of normal C. zedoaria and Z. zerumbet plantlets.

Key words: Temporary immersion system, medicinal plant, acclimatization,Curcuma zedoaria, Zingiber zerumbet.

Abbreviation

TIS, Temporary immersion system; MS, murashige and skoog (1962); BA, 6-benzylaminopurine; IBA, indole butyric acid.