Plant regeneration from leaf explants of Tigridiopalma magnifica (Melastomataceae)

An efficient micropropagation system using leaves as explants has been established for Tigridiopalma magnifica C. Chen. It Was found that adventitious bud organogenesis occurred from the leaf explants cultured Oil Milrashige & Skoo- (MS) i edium with appropriate supplements of plant growth regulators. Up to 7.6 adventitious buds formed per leaf explant after a 40-day culture on MS Medium containing 2.0 mg.l(-1) 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) and 0.1 mg.l(-1) thidiazuron (TDZ) During 30-day Subculture, the proliferation rate of adventitious bud in cluster was 5.7 on MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg.l(-1) BA and 0.5 mg.l(-1) l-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). The half-strength MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg l(-1) indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) was best for rooting. When micropropagated plantlets with well-developed root systems were transferred to planting pots containing a Mixture of sand, sieved peat and perlite (1:1:1; v/v) in greenhouse conditions, 86.0% of the plantlets Survived. The regeneration protocol in this study provides a basis for germplasm conservation and large-scale multiplication of T magnifica.