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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Poplarville, Mississippi » Southern Horticultural Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #200635
Title: In Vitro multiple shoot induction and plant regeneraton from shoot apex of Hibiscus actosella Welw. ex. Hiern

Author
item Sakhanokho, Hamidou

Submitted to: Journal of Crop Improvement
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/21/2007
Publication Date: 3/3/2008
Citation: Sakhanokho, H.F. 2008. In Vitro multiple shoot induction and plant regeneraton from shoot apex of Hibiscus actosella Welw. ex. Hiern. Journal of Crop Improvement. 21(2):201-208.

Interpretive Summary: The purpose of this study was to establish protocols capable of producing in vitro multiple plants from a single meristem or shoot of Hibiscus acetosella. Hibiscus acetosella is an edible tropical shrub also grown as an annual ornamental for the attractiveness of its deep burgundy red, maple-like leaves. Since its inception in the early 1960s, the technique of in vitro shoot tip culture has been an invaluable tool that is used for many purposes, including the development of virus-free or indexed plants, safer germplasm exchanges among countries, mass propagation of plants, and preservation of endangered species. To produce multiple shoots, 21 different media containing various concentrations of the growth regulators thidiazuron (N-phenyl-N’-1,2,3-thidazol-5-ylurea, TDZ) and 6-benzyladenine (BA) were tested. The medium containing 0.125 mg/l TDZ and 2 mg/l was among the best performing ones. These results can be used for the rapid micropropagation and genetic engineering of H. acetosella.

Technical Abstract: Multiple shoot induction and plant regeneration was achieved from shoot apices in two Hibiscus acetosella Welw. ex. Hiern variants by using the growth regulators thidiazuron (N-phenyl-N’-1,2,3-thidazol-5-ylurea, TDZ) and 6-benzyladenine (BA) and growing shoot apices for 30 days in 21 different media containing various concentrations and combinations of these growth regulators. Multiple shoot induction medium with 0.125 mg/l TDZ and 2 mg/l resulted in the highest numbers of shoots per explant, with an average of 3.33 and 3.67 shoots per explant for the green and red form of H. acetosella, respectively. Shoots elongated and acclimatized readily. A flow cytometric analysis of the regenerants detected no changes in ploidy level. Results reported here suggest that both BA and TDZ are directly involved in producing multiple shoot from the embryonic meristem axes of H. acetosella.