IN VITRO PRESERVATION OF RODENT TUBER (TYPHONIUM FLAGELLIFORME LODD.) PEKALONGAN ACCESSION WITH PACLOBUTRAZOL

Abstract

Rodent tuber plant (Typhonium flagelliforme Lodd.), as one of the most potent medicinal plants, has to be developed as an active ingredient of degenerative drugs, including cancer drugs. However, this enormous potential must be supported by sustainable cultivation of the plant. The conventional preservation of rodent tuber can be done by planting various accessions in the field, but it will need land availability and intensive plant maintenance. Preservation through in vitro culture is an alternative method that can be used. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of paclobutrazol in suppressing the growth of rodent tuber cultures, and test the ability of culture regeneration after being preserved with paclobutrazol. The media formulation used was Murashige and Skoog (1962) (MS) with the addition of paclobutrazol at concentrations of 4, 5, 6, and 7 mg L-1. The results showed that using paclobutrazol at 5 mg L-1 was the best concentration that can inhibit the elongation of buds, seedling formation, leaf formation, and root elongation until 5 months. Cultures of paclobutrazol treatment at 5 mg L-1 had shoot heights, number of shoots, number of leaves, and root lengths of 0.49, 2.33, 7.23, and 0.3 cm, respectively. Paclobutrazol could inhibit the growth of in vitroculture of rodent tuber and prolong the shelf life of culture up to 5 months. The culture of rodent tuber from paclobutrazol treatment had normal growth and regenerative ability after transfer to the medium regeneration.