Tissue Culture of Single Rhizome Explants of Dionaea muscipula Ellis ex. L., the Venus Fly-trap, for Rapid Asexual Propagation1

Abstract

Abstract A single rhizome explant of the Venus fly-trap has the potential to produce 14 or more rooted plantlets in 40 to 60 days when cultured on a medium containing half strength Murashige and Skoog salts, organic components, naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) at 1.9 mg/liter and 6-benzylamino purine (BA) at 0.2 mg/liter. Cultures were grown in 16 hour cycles of Cool White fluorescent light at 23° to 26°C. Explants derived from either lateral buds or adventitious buds from leaf cuttings have equal potential for rapid multiplication. This same medium produced optimum plantlet size and quality. Supplementing the basal medium with 0.3 or 1.0 mg/liter of GA3 decreased the number of explants and increased the size of plantlets prior to acclimatization. Media containing higher and lower salt concentrations and higher and lower IAA, NAA, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), BA, or 6(γ,γ, dimethylallylamino)-purine (2ip), produced fewer plantlets while increasing deleterious effects. The rapid plantlet multiplication procedure described will increase commercial availability of the plants while decreasing collection pressures on wild germplasm pools.