Micropropagation of black turmeric (Curcuma caesia Roxb.) through in vitro culture of rhizome bud explants.

In the present study, preliminary in vitro shoots propagation of Curcuma caesia Roxb. was investigated. Rhizome buds were used as explants and were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 6-Benzyl adenine (BA) alone or in combination with a- Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). The results showed that the optimum shoot proliferation was obtained from MS medium containing 3.0 µM BA + 0.5 µM NAA. In this growth regulator combination, maximum 99.97 % explants produced 10.38 shoots with 4.53 cm length after 8 weeks of culture. Although spontaneous rooting was observed after 4 weeks of cultivation with all treatments using half strength MS medium containing IBA and NAA at different concentrations, high frequency of rooting (89.76 %) was obtained in 3.0 µM IBA (Indole-3-butyric acid) containing medium. The plantlets, thus developed, were hardened and successfully established in natural soil.