MICROPROPAGATION OF NEPENTHES HYBRID (N. VIKING × N. MIRANDA) USING A TEMPORARY IMMERSION BIOREACTOR SYSTEM, SETIS

Abstract

A temporary immersion bioreactor system, SETISTM, was successfully used for micropropagation of Nepenthes hybrid (N. viking × N. miranda). Tissue culture plantlets easily wither during acclimatisation due to water loss caused by less wax formation and lack of stomatal function in leaves. Therefore, this study was aimed at improving the leaf performances and survival rate of Nepenthes. Different strengths of Murashige and Skoog (MS) liquid media, BAP (6-benzylamino purine) concentrations and immersion durations were investigated. Results showed that half strength MS medium with 0.1, 0.25 and 0.5 mg L-1 BAP and 5 min immersion gave 100% raft supporter coverage in SETISTM vessels. The highest number of leaves (16.67 ± 1.53) was greater from MS medium with 0.1 mg L-1 BAP at 10 min immersion, compared to control culture (between 8 ± 1.0 and 12 ± 4.36). The highest morphological changes in leaf (length = 10.13 ± 0.36 cm and width = 2.29 ± 1.12 cm) were derived from half strength MS medium with 0.25 mg L-1 BAP (10 min immersion), twice the size of control culture. Plants from half strength MS medium with 0.5 mg L-1 BAP at 5 and 10 min immersion gave the highest survival rate (70 ± 0.0%) compared to control culture (36 ± 1.2%).