Micropropagation of ornamental Alocasia

Abstract

In vitro multiplication of Alocasia micholitziana 'Green Velvet', Alocasia X amazonica and Alocasia cuculata was achieved from axillary buds excised from the corms of greenhouse-grown plants. Shoots were developed directly within 6-8 weeks on the MS medium supplemented with 10 mgl-1 2-iP for A. micholitziana 'Green Velvet' or 10 mgl-1 BA for A. X amazonica and A. cuculata. Considering the quality of the shoots, high frequency of shoot regeneration was achieved on similar medium in subsequent subcultures for A. micholitziana 'Green Velvet' (5.0 shoots/culture). Five mgl-1 BA gave the best shoot regeneration in A. X amazonica and A. cuculata (4.6 and 5.0 shoots/culture, respectively). Shoots of the regenerated plants rooted abundantly on the hormone free MS within 4 weeks. Acclimatization was successful with approximately 100% of the in vitro plantlets which survived in a greenhouse. The regenerated plants seemed morphologically to be similar to the respective mother plants. The established procedure provided a basic technique to carry out the furture in vitro experiments in Alocasia.