MICROPROPAGATION OF MONSTERA DELICIOSA LIEBM. 'THAI CONSTELLATION'

This study evaluated the effect of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) on nodal segments surface disinfection, plant growth regulators on axillary shoot multiplication, and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) on rooting of in vitro -regenerated shoots in Monstera deliciosa Liebm. 'Thai Constellation'. The surface disinfection of the nodal explants was achieved best with immersion in 70% (v : v) ethanol for 90 s, followed by sodium hypochlorite (1.0%, v : v) for 10 min, and finally 80 mg l(-1) Ag NPs for 50 min. The surface disinfected nodal segments (0.8-1.0 cm) were cultivated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with various concentrations of cytokinins (N-6-benzyladenine, kinetin, and thidiazuron) and a combination of thidiazuron and alpha-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) for axillary shoot multiplication. The maximum shoot induction (100%) and a greater number of shoots (7.6) were achieved on MS medium with 4 mu M thidiazuron and 2 mu M NAA. Axillary shoots (> 2.0 cm) regenerated from nodal explants of M. deliciosa 'Thai Constellation' were separated and subcultured on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 g l(-1) activated charcoal and 0, 2, 4, 8, or 16 mu M of IBA to induce rooting. The best rooting rate (100%) and highest number of roots (6.3) were obtained on MS medium with 0.5 g l(-1) activated charcoal and 8 mu M IBA.