Somatic embryo formation, plantlet vigorous and greenhouse preliminary test of garlic bulblet obtained through somatic embryogenesis

Abstract

Garlic production in Indonesia is still low due to limited availability of seedling. Approximately 10% of garlic yield are used for the next cultivation. Therefore about 90 % of garlic consumption are still imported from China. In addition to conventional seed production, alternative routes are needed, such as through somatic embryogenesis. Research consists of three activities, namely 1) induction and multiplication of callus, 2) embryo somatic and plantlet formation and 3) preliminary test of bulblet in vitro in the greenhouse. Parameters observed in the laboratory activities were time of callus emergence, callus weight and morphology, time of somatic embryo emergence, embryo diameter and weight per bottle, plantlet number and vigorous and bulblet number per bottle, while in the greenhouse, parameter observed were survival of bulblet number, plant height, leaf number per plant, and clove number and weight. The result showed that application of 2,4-D 3 mg/l with casein hydrolysate acid was suitable for callus induction of garlic var. Lumbu Kuning, while BAP 2 mg/l was the most suitable formula for callus multiplication, the addition of paclobutrazol 1 ppm and sucrose 20% in MS medium was the most suitable treatment for plantlet vigorous, while the bulblet formation could be developed by using jasmonic acid with sucrose of 12%. The best medium for growjng media of in vitro bulblet in the greenhouse was the combination of sandy soil, cocopeat and manure.