A successful and reproducible clonal propagation protocol from seed
culture and a high regeneration ability through callus cultures derived from
hypocotyls of Asparagus densiflorus were achieved in this investigation. The results
showed that good seed germination could be achieved by cold and wet seed
stratification prior to culture and using sloped surface medium enriched with 2 mgl-1
BA. The use of hypocotyls was superior upon the use of radicals as explants for shoot
multiplication. The best parameters for hypocotyl explants multiplication were
recorded while using BA alone at 1.0 mgl-1 by producing 8.13 shoots/ explant of 7.81
cm mean length and 33.00 leaves per explant. The best auxin for rooting of Asparagus
shoots was IBA at 1.25 mgl-1 as compared to IAA or NAA. At callus induction and
initiation stage, a compact green callus was produced by the addition of 0.5+ 0.3 mgl-1
of both BA and NAA. The addition of 0.5+ 0.2 mgl-1 from BA and NAA gave the best
callus regeneration ability. Using of BA and NAA at 0.5+ 0.2 gave the best shoots
multiplication parameters regenerated from the callus. The highest number of roots
(12.4 roots/ explant) and the longest roots (4.98 cm) were gained from the addition of
1.25 mgl-1 IBA. A high survival rate (95%) was found with Asparagus plantlets
gradually acclimatized into the out-air conditions.
Keywords: Asparagus densiflorus, micropropagation, in