<em>In vitro</em> establishment and multiplication of <em>Curcuma longa</em> L.

Abstract

Turmeric is a very valuable plant as condiment, dye and due to its medicinal properties. Although results achieved in the in vitro propagation, rates of in vitro establishment and multiplication are low. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of bud length, physical state of culture medium and concentration of inorganic salts and growth regulators in the in vitro establishment and multiplication of turmeric. Buds taken from main rhizomes were used in the establishment.They were disinfected, several layers of leaf primordia were removed and buds were cut into 0.5-0.7 cm, 0.8-1.0 cm and 1.1-1.3 cm. In vitro plants of established after 30 days were used for multiplication. Various concentrations of 6-BAP (0.0, 2.0, 4.0, 6.0 mg.l-1) were added to basal culture medium. Besides, the effect of adding MS salts 25, 50, 75 and 100% (control) and the use of liquid or semisolid culture medium was determined. It did increase The values of disinfection and in vitro establishment, referred in literature, for the culture were increase since terminal buds of 0.8-1.0 cm and sodium hypochlorite 2% of active chlorine for 25 minutes were used. During the in vitro multiplication, values for the number of shoots per explant, length of shoots and number of roots per shoot were similar to those previously referred in literature. Keywords: in vitro plant, micropropagation, MS salts