Factors affecting in vitro propagation of Dracaena sanderiana Sander ex Mast. cultivars. II. MS salt strengths, subculturing times, rooting and acclimatization

Abstract

The interaction effect of MS salt strengths and subculturing times were studied in Dracaena sanderiana Sander ex Mast. (lucky bomboo). Stem pieces, each bearing a single node, were cultured horizontally on full, 3/4 and 1/2 strength MS media supplemented with 2 mg l-1 BA and 0.25 mg l-1 NAA. Proliferation rate, shoot length, and number of leaves increased when 1/2 strength MS medium was used. The highest shoot length was recorded after the third subculture. Moreover, the greatest number of leaves was obtained at this stage. The highest mean value for parameters such as rooting percentage, the number of roots, and root length were observed on media supplemented with 2 mg l-1 Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Plantlets were subsequently planted in a mixture of perlite and vermiculite (1:1) under 95% relative humidity and were then transferred to greenhouse conditions. The proposed protocol can be used in commercial mass production of D. sanderiana.