Abstract
Sprouted corm sections of “South Dade” white cocoyam were potted and maintained in a greenhouse for 8 weeks. Shoot tips of 3–5 mm comprising the apical meristem with 4–6 leaf primordial, and approximately 0.5 mm of corm tissue at the base. These explants were treated to be used into the culture medium. A modified Gamborg's B5 mineral salts supplemented with 0.05 μM 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) were used throughout the study. Thidiazuron (TDZ) solution containing 0.01% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was used. Erlenmeyer flasks and test tubes were used for growing cultures. The effect of different media substrate, thidiazuron, and the interaction between TDZ and Benzylaminopurine (BAP) on cocoyam culture were tested. Results indicated that cocoyam can be successfully micropropagated in vitro through various procedures. All concentrations tested (5–20 μM BAP and 1–4 μM TDZ) produced more axillary shoots per shoot tip than the control without cytokinins. Greater proliferation rates were obtained through the use of 20 μM BAP and 2 μM TDZ, respectively, 12 weeks from initiation. Shoots produced with BAP were larger and more normal in appearance than those produced with TDZ, which were small, compressed, and stunted. The use of stationary liquid media is recommended for economic reasons.
Highlights
Cocoyam [Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L) Schott] is an herbaceous, monocotyledonous crop that belongs to Araceae family
Evaluations indicated that 2.0 μM TDZ and 5.0 μM BAP are important in the initiation of cocoyam tissue cultures
Explants subcultured on Stationary Liquid Media in Erlenmeyer Flasks proliferated heavily
Summary
Cocoyam [Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L) Schott] is an herbaceous, monocotyledonous crop that belongs to Araceae family. The stem is a starch-rich underground structure, the corm, from which offshoots called cormels develop. But when it occurs, the inflorescence consists of a cylindrical spadix of flowers enclosed in a 12–15 cm spathe [1]. It is a staple food in the tropics and subtropics and one of the six most important root and tuber crops worldwide [2]. The corm, cormels, and leaves of cocoyam are an important source of carbohydrates for human nutrition, animal feed [3,4,5], and of cash income for farmers [6]. Cocoyam production requires high labor and water. Its breeding is difficult in addition to its sensitivity to diseases and pests [8]
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