Early Event at In Vitro Propagation of PGL-15 Tea Clone

In vitro propagation is one solution to maintain or even to increase tea’s productivity in Indonesia. This study aimed to obtain early-event information related to in vitro tea propagation using embryo axis and cotyledon of PGL-15 clone. This research was carried out by culturing the explants on MS medium with half strength (½ MS) (A medium); ½ MS + BAP 2 mg L-1 (B medium); ½ MS + BAP 2 mg L-1 + GA3 0.5 mg L-1 (C medium); and ½ MS + BAP 2 mg L-1 + GA3 0.5 mg L-1 + eco enzyme 0.1 % v v-1 (D medium), with five explants per bottle and each treatment was repeated three times. The result showed that the D medium was the best medium in inducing further development of embryo axis and cotyledon explants. Morphological analysis showed that embryo axis explants cultured on the B, C, and D medium seemed better vigour, indicated by the increasing size and blooming of leaf primordial(s). Surface ultrastructure analysis showed that speed development of leaf primordial(s) on embryo axis explant varied among tested explants, depending on the type of the culture medium. For cotyledon in vitro propagation, it showed that at 7 days after culture (7-DACs), the D medium gave the best results in inducing explants for further development. This successful induction of further development of these explants is expected to open possibility of its multiplication in large quantity and its application for further research on tea plant.