Mass propagation of microtubers from suspension cultures of Pinellia ternata cells and quality analysis of the regenerated tubers

We established optimal conditions for the mass production of microtubers from suspension cultures of Pinellia ternata cells including the relative effects of regulators of plant growth, carbon sources, nitrogen sources, pH and inoculation amount on the growth of suspended cells and the induction of microtubers. Histological analysis was used to investigate the morphogenesis of microtubers and the quality of the microtuber-propagated tubers was evaluated. The results showed that the optimal culture conditions for inducing P. ternata microtubers from suspension culture included MS medium containing 1.5 mg·L−1 of 6-BA, 1.5 mg·L−1 of NAA, 10 g·L−1 of sucrose and 0.2 g·L−1 CH at pH 5.8; the best initial inoculation amount was determined to be 20 g·L−1. After 60 days of culture under these conditions, the maximum yield of P. ternata cells was 7.54 g; furthermore, the embryonic callus generated microtubers via organogenesis at a frequency of 88.5