Application of artificial seeds in rapid multiplication of <i>Pseudostellaria heterophylla</i>

Abstract

In this study, a method which produces artificial seeds of Pseudostellaria heterophylla was presented. The micro-tubers induced from virus-free seedlings were used as explants, and the coating material was sodium alginate. The results show that the appropriate medium for P. heterophylla micro-tubers formation was the MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg l^-1 NAA, 500 mg l^-1 CCC and 50 g l^-1 sucrose; and the average number of micro-tuber reached 7.3 in each seedling under these conditions. Moreover, the optimum medium for the highest germination rate (83.8%) was 1/4 MS (without sugar) + 1.0 mg L^-1 6- BA + 0.1 mg L^-1 NAA, and the artificial seeds were more perishable in sucrose-rich environments. It also indicated that the artificial seeds were still active with a seedling rate of 80% after they were preserved at 4°С for 90 days, which could meet the requirement of winter-produced seeds and plants in spring.

Key words: Artificial seed, artificial endosperm, micro-tuber, Pseudostellaria heterophylla, sodium alginate