Improvement of propagation efficiency of Anthurium andreanum Andre.

Abstract

The investigation was carried out at AICFIP, Department of Pomology and Floriculture, Vellanikkara, Thrissur during 1995-1997 to study the effect of growth regulators on lateral shoot production and to attempt production of synseeds through encapsulation of somatic embryos in anthurium. Anthurium andreanum occupies a very prominent place in the commercial floriculture industry of Kerala. Availability of planting material is one of the major problems of its commercial cultivation in Kerala. Hence, this study on improvement of propagation efficiency of Anthurium andreanum Andre has great relevance. In the present study two growth regulators, Gibberellic acid (GA3) and Benzyl amino purine (BAP) at four levels (250 mg r', 500 mg r ', 750 mg r1 and 1000 mg 1'1) were tried on intact and topped plants . . Topping alone could induce lateral shoot production. Size of the lateral shoots was also high in topped plants. Effect of different growth regulators were expressed during different periods. Effect of BAP was evident from fifth month after first spray whereas GA3 effect was expressed only after 8 months. GA3750 mg r1 on topped plants produced highest number of lateral shoots per

plant among all the treatments. In intact plants BAP 250 mg r1 was found to be more effective. GA3 treatments produced larger sized shoots compared to BAP treatments. Growth regulators also changed the angle between spathe and spadix of the flower spike. Plants sprayed with GA3 500 mg r ' 'produced flowers with maximum angle between spathe and spadix. Application of growth regulators, BAP and GA3 manifested profound variation in the potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) content in the spadix. It was found that the angle between spathe and spadix increased with an increase in the content of Ca and Mg in the spadix. In micropropagation, callus was formed in explants from the leaf, petiole and spadix. The callus production was good in explants from spadix in 1/2 MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D 2 mg rl and kinetin 0.3 rnql'. Addition of casein hydrolysate in the medium improved callusing in leaf explants. However, the calli did not respond to somatic embryogenesis induction treatments. The regeneration from callus was organogenic than embryogenic. Further studies are needed to standardise a complete protocol for somatic embryogenesis and encapsulation of embryoids to produce synthetic seeds.