We report here the protocol for Zedoary (Curcuma zedoaria Roscoe) callus and cell
suspension cultures. The MS medium supplemented with 2% sucrose, 1.0 mg/l 2,4-D and 1.0 mg/l
BA was effective for callus induction from in vitro leaf-base explants of Zedoary. During
subcultures, secondary proliferated calli were subsequently produced from initial induced calli on
the MS medium with 0.5 mg/l 2.4-D and 0.5 mg/l BA. These calli were light yellow in color,
compact and friable. The cell suspension culture for Zedoary was established using 3 g fresh
weight inoculum in a batch culture on the MS medium supplemented with 3% sucrose, 1.5 mg/l
2,4-D and 0.5 mg/l BA. The highest biomass of 10.44 g fresh weight (0.66 g dry weight) was
obtained after 14 days of culture in 50 ml liquid medium of 250 ml Erlenmeyer flask with shaking
speed of 120 rpm. Results from this study might be a well established foundation for further
studies on Curcuma zedoaria Roscoe in order to serve as a potential source for secondary
metabolites production in large scale.
