Conservation and Large Scale Propagation of a Valuable Ornamental Aquatic Plant, Echinodorus argentinensis Rataj through Micropropagation

Abstract

A protocol was standardized for large scale propagation through multiple shoot proliferation from the basal buds of Echinodorus argentinensis, an ornamental aquatic plant. Explants were treated for 15 minutes with commercial bleach (containing 0.825% Sodium hypochlorite as active ingredient) which was diluted with distilled water to a concentration of 15%; and were then dipped for a second in 100% ethanol to obtain axenic cultures. The axenic basal buds initiated shoot formation within a week when cultured on full strength Murashige & Skoog medium (MS medium) supplemented with 1.0 mg/l 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP). Number of shoots produced per explant was maximum (2.5672 shoots per explant p< 0.05) on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/l BAP. Shoots were elongated considerably in all the media tried for shoot multiplication and maximum elongation (2.87 cm, p< 0.05) of the in vitro developed shoots was observed on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/l BAP in combination with 0.1 mg/l Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). Root regeneration was observed on all the shoot regeneration media and the highest number of roots/shoot (3.4568 roots per shoot) was obtained on MS medium devoid of any kind of plant growth regulators. The plantlets developed in vitro were subjected to acclimatization procedure and were finally planted in the aquarium. The protocol is ready for commercialization.