MICROPROPAGATION OF CALADIUM BICOLOR (AIT.) VENT. ‘THEP SONGSIL’ AND INCIDENCE OF SOMACLONAL VARIANTS

Explants from the first fully expanded leaf of Caladium bicolor ‘Thep Songsil’ were cultured in vitro on 16 different media in order to determine the appropriate concentration of plant growth regulators (NAA, BA and 2,4-D). Eleven out of the sixteen combinations promoted callus formation.
The medium containing 17.76 μM BA with 2.69 μM NAA was the most effective for callus proliferation in C. bicolor ‘Thep Songsil’. Subsequently, plantlets were regenerated on MS medium containing 11.1 μM BA. The regenerated plantlets were grown in a greenhouse and could be divided into 9 types.
In each growth regulator combinations, 2–6 types of regenerated plants were observed.
The occurrence of variants varied from 14.7–57.1%. The mode and incidence of observed variations were discussed.
It was shown that the major influence on variation was not due to plant growth regulators in the medium.
A few new regenerated variants were totally different from the original plants, and showed great possibility for commercialization.

XXIII International EUCARPIA Symposium, Section Ornamentals, Colourful Breeding and Genetics – Part II

C. Thepsithar, A. Thongpukdee, P. Chiensil

micropropagation, leaf colour variation

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2010.855.41