In vitro propagation of five Alocasia species

The influence of cytokinin, N6-benzyladenine, on shoot proliferation of five Alocasia species (A. amazonica, A. cuprea, A. robusta, A. longiloba and A. chaii) was investigated. In vitro propagation of these species was established using shoot tip explants. Murashige & Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations of BA (N6-benzyladenine) ranging from 0, 2, 5, 10 mg/L was then used to establish the optimum medium for shoot proliferation for all the species. MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/L BA was optimum for the shoot proliferation. All the tested species showed varying results for shoot number and shoot height. A comparison between agar-gelled medium and shake flask system using liquid medium was carried out to evaluate the shoot growth and proliferation for all the tested species. For A. amazonica, A. cuprea, A. robusta and A. longiloba, shake flask system using liquid medium of the same constituents stimulated more shoot proliferation as compared to agar-gelled medium. However, for A. chaii there was no significant difference. All the in vitro plantlets with well developed roots and leaves were successfully acclimatized with more than 90% survival rate.