In vitro propagation of <i>Tacca leontopetaloides</i> (L.) Kuntze in Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out to assess the propagation of Tacca leontopetaloides (Taccaceae) in vitro using seed embryos. The seeds were cultured on Murashige & Skoog basal media augmented with various concentrations of single or combined growth hormones to obtain a suitable protocol for plantlet regeneration. Seed embryo germination of 57% was obtained, as against 20% for germination under conventional sowing. The best shoot proliferation was obtained using media fortified with 0.1 mg/L 6-benzyl amino purine and 0.01 mg/L naphthalene acetic acid, while the best rooting was obtained with MS media supplemented with 0.1 mg/L indole butyric acid. Callus formation was not observed on plantlets in vitro, indicating much easier and less challenging in vitro plant propagation.

Keywords: tissue culture, micro-propagation, regeneration, recalcitrance