Micropropagation of black turmeric (Curcuma caesia
Roxb.) through in vitro culture of rhizome bud
explants
In the present study, preliminary in vitro shoots propagation of Curcuma caesia Roxb.
was investigated. Rhizome buds were used as explants and were cultured on
Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 6-Benzyl adenine (BA) alone or in
combination with α- Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). The results showed that the
optimum shoot proliferation was obtained from MS medium containing 3.0 µM BA +
0.5 µM NAA. In this growth regulator combination, maximum 99.97 % explants
produced 10.38 shoots with 4.53 cm length after 8 weeks of culture. Although
spontaneous rooting was observed after 4 weeks of cultivation with all treatments
using half strength MS medium containing IBA and NAA at different concentrations,
high frequency of rooting (89.76 %) was obtained in 3.0 µM IBA (Indole-3-butyric
acid) containing medium. The plantlets, thus developed, were hardened and
successfully established in natural soil.