In Vitro propagation and acclimatization of the foliage ornamental plant Alocasia reversa N.E.Br. using microbulb segment explants and bacterial contaminant suppression via ultraviolet-c irradiation

Abstract

The development of an effective in vitro propagation strategy for Alocasia reversa N.E.Br. using microbulb segment explants and the suppression of bacterial contaminants using ultraviolet C (UV-C) light were observed in this research. Several steps were taken, including shoot initiation, adventitious shoot formation from microbulb segment, suppression of bacterial contamination with UV-C, and the enlargement of plantlets until acclimatization. Shoot initiation was optimal on both Murashige Skoog (MS) and ½ MS media supplemented with 1.0 mg L-1 Thidiazuron (TDZ) and 0.5 mg L-1 N6- Benzylaminopurine (BAP). The optimal medium for adventitious shoot induction from microbulb was identified as MS supplemented with 0.75 mg L-1 TDZ and 0.5 mg L-1 BAP. Conversely, the medium containing MS, 0.75 mg L-1 TDZ, and 0.75 mg L-1 BAP resulted in the fastest shoot initiation and the highest adventitious shoot formation. The next step, bacterial suppression in the middle of the in vitro culture, revealed that intermittent 1-hour UV-C irradiation was more effective for eliminating bacterial contaminants than longer irradiation. Plantlet enlargement was recorded; the best shoot was produced on MS with 1 mg L-1 BAP, but for root promotion, ½ MS was sufficient. Finally, the transparent plastic cover treatment acclimatization was observed in high performance using a transparent plastic cover. The protocol series for propagation using microbulb segment in vitro until the handling of bacterial contaminants and simple acclimatization methods can be used as a reference for the cultivation of A. reversa. Keywords: Adventitious shoot, benzylaminopurine, plantlet enlargement, thidiazuron, transparent plastic cover.