PROPAGATION OF PITCHER PLANTS (Nepenthes gracilis KORTH. AND Nepenthes reinwardtiana MIQ.) THROUGH CALLUS INDUCTION

Yeyen Novitasari ,Yupi Isnaini

doi:10.24246/agric.2021.v33.i2.p81-92

Abstract

In vitro propagation of pitcher plants is still limited only using seeds, while the other in vitro methods using leaf explants such as embryogenesis, organogenesis, and callus culture has not been widely reported. The research aims to study the growth response of leaf explants in two species of pitcher plants (Nepenthes gracilis and Nepenthes reinwardtiana), which formed callus in several treatment media combinations. Leaf pieces were taken from a 4-month pitcher plant culture were grown on the treatment media, namely modified media of Murashige & Skoog with a half concentration (½ MS) added 2.4-Dichlorophenoxoxyacetate (2.4-D) with a concentration of 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 mg L-1 and kinetin (0.5 mg L-1). The treatment was then stored in a dark environment to induce callus formation. The observation for 12 weeks showed that the time of callus formation in two species of pitcher plant observed was not significantly different. Both species of pitcher plants begin to form callus in the fourth week after treatment. None of the leaf explants were planted on the control medium without hormones formed callus. The best medium for callus induction in N. gracilis is ½ MS medium added with 2 mg L-1 2,4-D and 0.5 mg L-1 kinetin, with callus morphology brownish-white with friable texture. In comparison, the optimum callus media from leaf explant of N. reinwardtiana has not been obtained yet. Thus further research is still needed.

Highlights

The pitcher plant belongs to the carnivorous plant family (Nepenthaceae) with the highest number of species, a dioecious plant, a woody or climbing plant, and a terrestrial or epiphytic plant
This study used leaves from two species of pitcher plant culture (N. gracilis dan N. reinwardtiana) which were cultured for four months in Murashige and Skoog’s modified medium with half the concentration (1/2 MS) added 2 mg L-1 Benzylaminopurine (BAP).Young leaves from both species of Nepenthes that are four months old after planting were planted on 1⁄2 MS medium, added with the treatment of 2.4-D and kinetin
The results of observations on the two species of pitcher plants showed no significant difference in the time of callus formation in the treatment of several 2.4-D concentrations given and only different from the control media (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

The pitcher plant belongs to the carnivorous plant family (Nepenthaceae) with the highest number of species, a dioecious plant, a woody or climbing plant, and a terrestrial or epiphytic plant. The pitcher plants have an exotic pitcher with various colors and shapes, which are the evolution of the leaves (Clarke, 1997; Selviana et al, 2018). The pitcher’s function in the pitcher plants is a trap for various invertebrates and some vertebrates for nutritional fulfillment (Clarke, 1997; Cheek and Jebb, 2001). The pitcher plant is in growing demand by the public, hobbyist and the general public, as an ornamental plant, because of the beauty and exoticism of the shape, pattern, and color of the pitcher and have another potential, namely containing the potential active compound (Chou et al, 2015; Rosli et al, 2018; Goh et al, 2020). Cultivation is needed to anticipate people who encroach on the forest to get the two species

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