Stimulation of Stem Callus and Regeneration of Ficus elastica "Decora" and from Apical Tips in vitro

Abstract

Calli cultures of stems and leaves explants excised from field -grown rubber, Ficus elastica Decora, plants were formed on agar-solidified Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium.The results proved that MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg L-1 benzyl adenin (BA) and 0.8mg L-1 2,4-dichloro-phenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) was suitable to stimulate stem’s callus at ratio 87.5% . Whereas supplementation of MS medium with 0.5 mg L-1 of both BA and Indole -3-butyric acid (IBA)encouraged callus formation to reach76.6%. Leaves showed responses for callus initiation up to 75% at the same media. Stem calli showed limited ability to regenerate shoots on both agar solidified MS medium containing 1.0 mg L-1 2,4-D and kinetin (kin) 0.5 mg L-1 and MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg L-1 of both BA and IBA. Transferring of shoots to differentiation medium (MS+0.5 mg L-1 BA+ 0.1 mg L-1 IBA) stimulated the growth and elongation of these shoots. Shoots were transferred to agar-solidified MS medium free from growth regulators failed to form roots. Because of the less number of shoots, other rooting media were not tested. The data showed, that shoot tips succeeded to regenerate shoots when they were cultured in different MS. The results proved clear increase in chlorophyll and protein content of the rubber shoots as compared with content of field grown rubber plants. It was noticed that agar-solidified MS medium supplemented with 4.0 mg L-1 BA was considered the optimum medium for shoots regeneration. All plants regenerated from shoot tips were readily rooted in agar-solidified MS medium with increasing Potassium Nitrate KNO3 from 1900 mg L-1 to 2000 mg L-1, and at the same medium supplemented with 3.0 mg L-1 IBA and 1.0 mg L-1 BA. All these plants were successfully acclimated and transferred to peat moss.