Abstracto

In vitro true to type propagation of Curcuma caesia Roxb. (Zingiberaceae) and assessment of its genetic fidelity using RAPDmarker

Arghya Ghosh, Gautam Saha, Padma Chatterjee, Parthadeb Ghosh

An efficient plant propagation system through rhizomal explants was established in Curcuma caesia Roxb., a medicinally important herbaceous annual herb belonging to the family Zingiberaceae. Here we report a rapid and reliablemethod for high fidelitymicro-propagation. Rhizomal explants from two months old seedlings were cultured on Murashige and SkoogÂ’s (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations of N6- benzyladenine (BA) (0.5 - 5.0 mg/l), Napthalenic acetic acid (NAA) (0.5 - 5.0 mg/l) and Indole 3 butyric acid (IBA) (0.5 - 5.0 mg/l). During the first culture on 1.5 mg/l of 6-benzylamino purine (BAP) and 1 mg/l of Napthalenic acetic acid (NAA)maximum15.40±0.40a shootswith an average shoot-length of 8.46±0.06a were produced. The elongated shoots produced amaximumof 12.00±0.00a roots on half-strengthMS liquidmedium supplemented with 1 mg/l of Indole 3 butyric acid (IBA). The plantlets were acclimatized by transferring them first to peat moss: compost (1:1) mixture followed by sand: soil (2:1)mixture, recording 95%survival. Genetic fidelitywas assessed byDNA fingerprinting using randomamplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) of in vitro and in vivo plants. Five arbitrary decamers displayed same banding profile showed no genomic alterations, indicating homogeneity among the tissue culture regenerates and genetic uniformity with that of donor plants. The present study provides high genetic fidelity micropropagated system for efficient and rapid micropropagation protocol of this important medicinal plant and great use in conserving without risk of genetic instability.