Vol. 81 No: 3

Title:
'Fragrant taro' [Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott var. antiquorum] micropropagation using thidiazuron and benzylaminopurine

Authors:
H.M. DU, D.M. TANG and D.F. HUANG

pp: 379-384

Abstract:
Fragrant taro [Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott var. antiquorum] is an important regional plant, with a good taste, from Chongming Island in the southeast of China. Its natural vegetative rate of propagation is relatively low and no research on in vitro propagation of ´fragrant taro` has been reported.Thus, an in vitro propagation method for ´fragrant taro` was developed, and the effects of thidiazuron (TDZ) and benzylaminopurine (BAP) on shoot-tip differentiation and multiplication were analysed. Shoot-tips were first cultured in half-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) semi-solid medium containing different concentrations of TDZ,BAP and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) for 30 d.The best result was found with 1.0 mg l^-1 TDZ treatment. Plantlets were then sub-cultured in MS liquid medium for another 90 d. After 30 d, the highest multiplication rate (2.5) was observed in medium with 1.0 mg l^-1 BAP and 0.5 mg l-1 NAA.The multiplication rate in medium supplemented with 3.0 mg l^-1 BAP and 0.1 mg l^-1 TDZ was the highest (4.7) after 90 d of culture. Well-developed shoots were rooted in MS medium solidified with 0.6% (w/v) agar, supplemented with 1.0 mg l^-1 BAP, 0.5 mg l^-1 NAA and 500 mg l^-1 active carbon before transplanting. A protocol for propagating ´fragrant taro` in vitro was established in which shoots maintained rapid multiplication for a long time. This protocol can also be used for germplasm conservation and exchange of ´fragrant taro`.

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