Effects of Medium Salt Strength and Plant Growth Regulators on Shoot Multiplication and Root Induction of Smilax corbularia

Rhizomes of Smilax corbularia are used for the treatment of cancers, AIDS, septicemia and lymphatic diseases. The demand for rhizomes as an important ingredient in medicinal preparations has increased considerably. As rapid multiplication through in vitro propagation need to be developed, the effects of MS (Murashige and Skoog) medium salt strengths and plant growth regulators were investigated for shoot multiplication and root induction. For shoot multiplication, in vitro single-node explants were cultured on half strength MS (1⁄2 MS) or full strength MS (MS) media supplemented with 15% coconut water (cw) in combination with either 0.5-1.0 mg l BA (Benzyladenine) and 0-1.0 mg l IAA (Indole-3-acetic acid), or 0.5-2.0 mg l kinetin for six weeks. The results suggested that 1⁄2 MS medium supplemented with 15% cw and 1 mg l -1 BA, and MS medium supplemented with 15% cw, 1 mg l BA combination with or without 0.5-1.0 mg l IAA gave the best shoot formations of 95-100%. The number of shoots and number of nodes per shoot obtained from these media were 1.0-1.3 and 4.4-5.0, respectively. For rooting, shoots were cultured on quarter strength MS (1⁄4 MS), 1⁄2 MS or MS medium supplemented with 0-2 mg l NAA (αNaphthalene acetic acid) for 12 weeks. The highest rooting percentages occurred on 1⁄4 MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg l -1 NAA (65.83%) and 1⁄2 MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg l NAA (66.67%), with the number of roots per shoot of 9.6 and 8.4, respectively. The rooted shoots were successfully transplanted with the survival rate of 80.81% in plastic pots containing soil, carbonized rice hull, decomposed rain tree leave, manure and sand at the ratio of 0.5:0.5:0.5:1:1.