Clonal propagation of Zephyranthes grandiflora using bulbs as explants

Abstract

Zephyr lily (Zephyranthes grandiflora), an important ornamental plant has been micropropagated in vitro after controlling microbial contamination by a pretreatment with 0.2 % Bavistin and 0.1 % Pantomycin for 4 h before final sterilization with 0.1 % mercuric chloride. In 67 % of the sterile cultures, 11 shoots on average were regenerated directly from basal half of bulb scales in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 3 % sucrose and 2 mg dm(-3) benzylaminopurine (BAP). Shoots emerged in bunches on a basal achlorophyllous bulbous part. Combination of 2 mg dm(-3) BAP with 1 mg dm(-3) gibberellic acid (GA(3)) enhanced shoot growth. Stout roots (maximum of 5-6 per shoot) were developed in presence of 1 mg dm(-3) indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Micro-bulbs showed potential of regeneration and could be used as secondary explants. The morphologically identical plants derived by in vitro propagation were genetically identical as shown by PCR based ISSR marker analysis of genomic DNA.