African Journal of
Biotechnology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biotechnol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1684-5315
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJB
  • Start Year: 2002
  • Published Articles: 12428

Full Length Research Paper

An efficient in-vitro regeneration system of Taro (Colocasia esculenta L. Schott) using apical meristems

Mercy Sinkiyian Kepue
  • Mercy Sinkiyian Kepue
  • Institute for Biotechnology Research, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P. O. Box 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya.
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Cecilia M. Mweu
  • Cecilia M. Mweu
  • Institute for Biotechnology Research, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P. O. Box 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya.
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David Muruu Kariuki
  • David Muruu Kariuki
  • Biosciences Eastern and Central Africa, International Livestock Research Institute, P. O. Box 30709-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
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Linnet Kerubo
  • Linnet Kerubo
  • International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, P. O. Box 30709-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
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Isaac Njaci
  • Isaac Njaci
  • Biosciences Eastern and Central Africa, International Livestock Research Institute, P. O. Box 30709-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
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Anne Njoroge
  • Anne Njoroge
  • Biosciences Eastern and Central Africa, International Livestock Research Institute, P. O. Box 30709-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
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Leah Kago
  • Leah Kago
  • Biosciences Eastern and Central Africa, International Livestock Research Institute, P. O. Box 30709-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
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Benard O. Mware
  • Benard O. Mware
  • International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, P. O. Box 30709-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
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Sita R. Ghimire
  • Sita R. Ghimire
  • Biosciences Eastern and Central Africa, International Livestock Research Institute, P. O. Box 30709-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
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  •  Received: 13 March 2020
  •  Accepted: 24 June 2021
  •  Published: 31 July 2021

Abstract

Taro (Colocasia esculenta L. Schott) is an important crop for food and nutrition security, incomes, and livelihood of people in developing countries. Its cultivation and productivity have been limited mainly due to a lack of quality planting materials. Therefore, this study developed an effective micropropagation method for two common taro varieties in Kenya (Purple Wild and Dasheen) using apical meristem derived from portions of the corm and base of leaf petioles. This study optimized the 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) levels for a better shoot and root development. The highest shoot induction was observed in both varieties when Murashige & Skoog (MS) media was supplemented with 2 mg/L of BAP. Similarly, the maximum rooting response was achieved in both varieties on half-strength MS media supplemented with 0.5 mg/L of IBA. The study also revealed significant interactions between variety × BAP levels and variety × IBA levels (P<0.0001) for shoot and root development, respectively. This apical meristem-based micropropagation method developed in this study can be used for rapid multiplication of genetically clean planting materials for commercial uses and to establish taro transformation protocols.

 

Key words: Taro, 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), shoot induction, root induction, regeneration.

Abbreviation

MS, Murashige and Skoog media; BAP, 6-benzylaminopurine; IBA, indole-3-butyric acid.

Copyright © 2023 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.

This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

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