Micropropagation of Dracaena loureiroi Gagnep.

Tissue culture technique was introduced for Dracaena loureiroi Gagnep. micropropagation. The objectives of this study were to investigate the seed sterilization method, the effect of cutting on seed germination and ratios of culture medium that gave high shooting proliferation and survival rate. For the seed sterilization, seeds were sterilized with a bleach solution in the concentration of 5, 10 and 15% for 5, 10 and 15 minutes, respectively, followed by washing with sterile distilled water for 3 times before culturing on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium for 4 weeks. It was found that the best sterilization method was at 10% bleach solution for 10 minutes and showed 90% aseptic explants. After that the seeds were cut and set as the experimental treatment, while controls were uncut before culturing on MS medium for 4 weeks according to the investigation of the effect of seed cutting on seed germination. The cut seed germination percentage was up to 70%. Then, the ratios of culture medium that gave high shooting proliferation and survival rate was studied. The seeds were cultured on MS media containing 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 mg/L of 6-benzyladenine (BA). It was found that a 3 mg/L BA in MS media was able to induce the highest shooting number. After subculturing on MS media supplemented with 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 mg/L of Indoeacetic acid (IAA), 3 and 4 mg/L IAA in MS media was able to induce the highest root number. Moreover, the transplant survival rate in the greenhouse for 4 weeks was 56.25%. Keywords : micropropagation , Dracaena loureiroi Gagnep. , sterilization