Micropropagation of Aglaonema var. Cochin was performed using axillary shoots as
explants. Shoots could be induced on the bulb region on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium
supplemented with 1.5 mg/l thidiazuron (TDZ). For shoot proliferation, small shoots were
multiplied on MS medium supplemented by 1.5 mg/l TDZ and 3 mg/l benzylamino purine
(BAP), whose addition was important to avoid callus growth. The highest multiplication rate of
Aglaonema shoots was achieved at the 5th subculture. After the 5th subculture (10 weeks) 1000
shoots could be obtained from two initial axillary shoots. Plantlets rooted and developed on MS
medium containing 3 mg/l indole-3-butyric acid. Acclimatization was performed successfully
with 100% survival rate on sphagnum moss followed by transfer to soil.
Key words: Aglaonema, axillary shoot, multiplication rate, plantlet, thidiazuron
International Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences IJBAS-IJENS Vol: 11 No: 01 47