STUDIES ON TISSUE CULTURE AND PLANT REGENERATION OF AMORPHOPHALLUS DUNNII TETCHER

Corms, petioles, scales and top buds of Amor phophallus dunnii Tetcher, a species of the genus Amor phophallus that is on the brink of extinction, were used as explants for tissue culture and plant regeneration. The corms, petioles and scales gave a callus induction frequency of 98% when cultured on MS medium supplemented with BA 1. 5 mg/L and NAA 1. 5 mg/L and a bud differentiation rate of more than 95% when cultured on MS medium supplemented with BA 1. 5 mg/L and NAA 0. 2 mg/L. When split top buds were inoculated on the differentiation medium, each gave rise to about 3 rosette buds, with a differentiation rate of more than 80%. On the rooting medium (MS supplemented with BA 0. 1 mg/L and NAA 0. 5-1. 0 mg/L), all the adventitious buds rooted readily and formed whole plants.