In vitro propagation and storage of Brugmansia versicolor Lagerheim

Abstract

Brugmansia versicolor Lagerheim of the family Solanaceae was propagated through shoot tip culture and shoots were cold-stored in vitro at 5, 10 or 15°C under light or dark condition. All the shoots died after cold storage for 6 months at 5°C irrespective of light condition. When shoots were stored for 12 months at 15°C under light illumination, the best 100% survival rate was obtained. The plants regenerated from shoots stored for 6 or 12 months retained the ability to accumulate scopolamine as much as the control plants which were raised from shoots maintained under normal culture condition without cold-storage. These findings show that slow growth storage of in vitro B. versicolor shoots at 15°C can be used as a germplasm conservation system for short- or medium-term duration without deterioration of the ability to accumulate the secondary metabolites.