Iron ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (FeEDTA complex) induces morphological changes during in vitro regeneration of <i>Bryophyllum pinnatum</i>

Abstract

Bryophyllum pinnatum is fast becoming a medicinal and ornamental plant of choice to study in vitro secondary metabolites production due to its easy-to-regenerate leaves. The importance of microelements, iron ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (FeEDTA complex) in B. pinnatum micropropagation was investigated. Leaf explants of B. pinnatum were surfaced sterilized and cultured on Murashige and Skoog basal media with FeEDTA complex (MS) or without FeEDTA complex (MS-FeEDTA) in a Completely Randomised Design (CRD) in triplicates. Data were collected on parameters such as root length, root number, shoot length, shoot number, number of leaves, number of nodes, plant colour at 8, 14 and 21 days after culture (DAC). The results showed that all the parameters studied were significantly different in MS supplemented with FeEDTA complex compared to MS without FeEDTA complex. There was significant colour changes at 21 DAC, as the plant turned yellowish in MS without FeEDTA complex indicating lack of photosynthetic activities with a possible role in siderophore production.