In Vitro Regeneration of Curcuma caesia Plantlets from Basal Part and via Somatic Embryogenesis

Plantlets of Curcuma caesia were produced in vitro from newly sprouting vegetative buds of tubers. Segments of the plantlets from the junction between the root and the basal portion of the stem were subsequently used as explants to investigate factors affecting callus induction and plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis. The explants were placed on Woody Plant Medium (WPM) together with different concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid(2,4-D) and benzyl aminopurine (BAP) in the presence of light. The growth medium supplemented with 5 mg/L BAP and 2 mg/L 2,4-D promoted callus induction after 70 days of culture. Sub-culturing on the same medium enhanced the production of friable callus. Culture media containing higher concentrations of agar promoted the development of green somatic embryos from the callus. Respond of somatic embryogenesis was most successful with MS medium in 6.0 g/L agar supplemented with 5 mg/L BAP and 0.2 mg/L 2,4-D whereby the callus developed into green somatic embryos with an efficiency of 53%. This culture medium also produced the largest number plantlets.