Micropropagation of Dieffenbachia plants from a single stem-nodes

Abstract

This study was carried out during two successive years from 2001 to 2003 at the plant tissue culture laboratory of Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafr El-Sheikh, Tanta University to determine the suitable methodology for in vitro propagation of Dieffenbachia maculata (Marianna and Exotica cvs.) and D. amoena (cv. Tropic Snow) from a single stem-node. The most effective sterilization method was by using HgCl at 0.1% for 20 min. Explants cultured on MS1/2 medium supplemented with 0.0, 2.0, 4.0, 6.0 and 8.0 mg L-1 BA combined with 0.0, 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 mg L-1 NAA. The best cultivar was Exotica to produced the highest number of shoots 21.0 shoot/jar by 8 mg L-1 BA. While, Marianna cv. cultured on MS 1/2 without hormone produced the largest number of leaves/shoot (5.5). Also, explants of three cultivars cultured on MS1/2 medium supplemented with 0.5 mg L-1 NAA gave the tallest shoot (3.1 cm). Explants from Exotica cv. cultured on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg L -1 NAA produced the heaviest shoot fresh weight (2.34 g). © 2006 Asian Network for Scientific Information.