invitroplantregenerationfromjuvenile.docVIP

IN VITRO PLANT REGENERATION FROM JUVENILE SHOOTS OF Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. ssp. nucifera (Chinese/Asian Lotus), A WATERPLANT SPECIES AS AN ALTERNATIVE FOOD SUPPLY N. Mahmad and R.M. Taha Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Email: fara_aid@.my Phone:+603 Fax:+603 Abstract The lotus, Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. ssp. Nucifera, is an important aquatic economic plant, not only as an ornamental flower but also as a source of edible and herbal medicine with strong bioactive ingredients such as alkaloids, flavonoids, antioxidants, antisteroids, antipyretic, anticancer, antiviral and anti obesity properties. An in vitro protocol is described for rapid and large scale propagation of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. ssp. nucifera (Nelumbonaceae), also known as sacred lotus. Juvenile shoots (2-weeks-old) were excised and cultured on solid Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium for axillary shoot proliferation. After 2 weeks of inoculation, one shoot elongated from each explant. Multiple shoots induction was achieved with efficient shoot elongation and repeated subculture of rootstock segments resulted in 4-5 shoots per explant after 8 weeks. The best growth was observed on solid MS medium supplemented with the combination of 0.5 mg/l NAA and 1.5 mg/l BAP. Rooting was obtained by growing shoots on solid MS without growth regulators (MS basal medium) within 4 weeks. Keywords: lotus, plant regeneration, multiple shoots, 6-benzyl aminopurine (BAP), α-naphtaleneacetic acid (NAA) Introduction Aquatic ecosystems such as rivers, lakes, ponds and wetlands, are expected to be the most severely affected by global warming phenomenon such as UVB radiation, decreasing water quality, salinisation, elevated temperature and water level as they occupy the lowest areas in the landscape (Brock et al., 2005; Goodman et al., 2010; Hart et al., 2003; James et al., 2003; Walker et al., 2002). Despite being recogni