An improved method for shoot organogenesis and plant regeneration in Sinningia speciosa was established. Leaf explants were
cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different combinations of benzylaminopurine (BAP) and
naphthalene-acetic acid (NAA) for shoot induction. MS media including BAP (2 mg/L) and NAA (0.1 mg/L) resulted in the highest
efficiency in shoot regeneration per explant (12.3 ± 0.8) and in the greatest shoot growth (1.2 ± 0.1 cm) after 6 weeks. For improving
shoot induction, the ethylene inhibitor silver nitrate and the polyamine putrescine were added to the regeneration medium. The
addition of silver nitrate (7 mg/L) increased the shoot number (23.9 ± 1.6) and length (1.7 ± 0.2 cm) after 6 weeks. Similarly,
putrescine (50 mg/L) improved the shoot number (19.2 ± 1.6) and growth (1.7 ± 0.2 cm). The rooted plants were hardened and
transferred to soil with a 90% survival rate. This method of producing S. speciosa regenerated plants could be used as a possible
micropropagation and plant transformation protocol.
Keywords: Gloxinia, micropropagation, plant regeneration, shoot organogenesis, Sinningia speciosa.