MICROPROPAGATION OF AQUARIUM PLANT, ANUBIAS SP. ‘WHITE’ USING ADENINE SULFATE AND 6-BENZYLAMINOPURINE

Abstract

Introduction: Anubias sp. “White” is distinguished from other Anubias species by mutation. The leaves are white and green, which is popular and has great market demand. The growth of this aquarium plant is slow.   Method: The combination of adenine sulfate (Ads) and 6-benzyl aminopurine (BAP) into Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. A comparison of three substrate materials, i.e., filter pads (FP), husk ash granules (HAG) and rockwool (RW) were used in ex-vitro acclimatization of the plantlets.   Results: Ads and BAP had combined effects on the plantlets, leaves and roots of the apical bud (p<0.05). The treatment with only BAP at 0.5 mg/L in MS medium obtained the highest number of shoots, which was 7.40 shoots/explant (p<0.05). There is an interaction between 25 mg/L Ads and 1-1.5 mg/L BAP to induce callus. The treatments with HAG were better than the other planting materials in terms of growth performance (p<0.05). HAG yielded the best growth (fresh weight of 0.74 g/plant), which was better than FP and RW, respectively, and showed a significant (p<0.05) difference in terms of root number and plant height except root length.   Conclusion: There was an interaction between 25 mg/L Ads and 1-1.5 mg/L BAP to induce callus. The treatment with only BAP at 0.5 mg/L in MS medium obtained the highest number of shoots, which was 7.40 shoots/explant (p<0.05). The HAG as a planting medium was the optimal ex-vitro acclimatization of Anubias sp. ‘white’ plantlets.