INVESTIGATION OF ALOE VERA EXTRACT EFFECT ON MORPHOGENETIC REACTIONS DURING MICROCLONAL PROPAGATION OF ORNAMENTAL SUCCULENTS

Abstract

Aim. The aim of the work was to elucidate the effect of Aloe vera extract on the efficiency of in vitro introduction into the culture and morphogenetic reactions under the conditions of microclonal propagation of the representatives of ornamental succulents. Methods. The work used standard biotechnological methods of microclonal propagation by induction of adventitious shoot formation. The source material was selected from donor plants of decorative succulents – Crassula ovata Hobbit (Mill), Kalanchoe blossfeldiana (Poelln)., Hatiora salicornioides and Schlumbergera truncata. As explants, die cuts of mature leaves were used, which, after surface phased sterilization, were cultivated on Murasige-Skoog (MS) regeneration medium with the addition of synthetic growth regulators, 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) of cytokinin type of action and α-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) of auxin action. In the control variant, the regeneration medium (RS) in its composition contained a half set of macro- and microelements and synthetic phytohormones – ½ MS + 3.0 mg/l BAP + 0.5 mg/l NAA, and in the experimental version, Aloe vera extract was added to the nutrient medium 1:100 ratio. The efficiency of sterilization and the formation of mericlones for introduction into culture and the speed and efficiency of various morphogenetic reactions: callus formation, shoot formation, and root formation were studied. Results. According to the results of the research, it was found that in the composition of the nutrient medium Aloe vera extract does not affect the efficiency of sterilization of leaf explants in the studied representatives of ornamental succulents. The morphogenetic potential of leaf explants is realized through the development of callus formation process during the first week of cultivation and intensive adventitious shoot formation after 6–8 weeks of cultivation. Intensive root formation is indicated only for leaf explants Schlumbergera truncata. Aloe vera extract in the nutrient medium stimulates the efficiency of the shoot formation process, increases the number of meristematic clones on one explant by 1.3–2.3 times and accelerates the process speed by 7–8 days. The studied decorative succulents differ in the efficiency of microclonal propagation – the maximum values are for Crassula ovata Hobbit (Mill) and Hatiora salicornioides, the minimum are for Kalanchoe blossfeldiana. Conclusions. Aloe vera extract in the composition of the nutrient medium for microclonal propagation of ornamental succulents exhibits a stimulating effect and can be offered as an effective biostimulator for increasing the propagation coefficient of the studied cultures.