Influence of agar concentration on <i>in vitro</i> multiplication of <i>Cymbopogon citratus</i> (D. C.) Stapf

Abstract

Here are presented the results on in vitro multiplication of lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus (D. C.) Stapf.); it is a very important medicinal plant because its analgesic, antinflamatory and hipotensor properties, among others, useful to elaborate several medicaments with a high popular acceptation. The main aim of this research was to set up the influence of agar concentration in culture medium during in vitro establishment on multiplication of lemon grass. Were used three treatments: (1) liquid medium with filter paper bridges, (2) 3 g.l-1 of agar (BIOCEN) and (3) 6 g.l-1 of agar (BIOCEN). The explants were inoculated on a culture media containing Murashige and Skoog salts (1962), Heinz and Mee vitamins (1969), myoinositol 100 mg.l-1, 6-BAP 0.2 mg.l-1 and sucrose 20 g.l-1. Meristematic tips were inoculated on the treatments described above under sun light conditions, once desinfected. The explants Influence of agar concentration on in vitro multiplication of Cymbopogon citratus (D. C.) Stapf. were maintained 21 days in this culture media and later it is were subcultured 5 times each 21 days, on the same multiplication culture media containing Murashige and Skoog salts (1962), tiamine 1 mg.l-1, myoinositol 100 mg.l-1, 6-BAP 0.3 mg.l-1 and sucrose 30 g.l-1. The pH was 5.7 for all culture media. The results showed the relevance of agar concentration during in vitro establishment on multiplication of lemon grass. Differences among treatments until the 2nd subculture was observed. 3.43 new axillary shoots from each explant cultured on a culture media supplemented with 3 g.l-1 of agar was reached. Key words: lemon grass, medicinal plants, micropropagation, tissue culture