Full Length Research Paper

Induction and multiplication of callus from endosperm of Cycas revoluta

Anna Ling Pick Kiong¹*^, Yeo Shu Thing¹, Jualang Azlan Gansau² and Sobri Hussein³

¹Department of Bioscience, Faculty of Engineering and Science, University Tunku Abdul Rahman, 53300 Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

²School of Science and Technology, University Malaysia Sabah, 88999 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

³Agrotechnology and Bioscience Division, Malaysian Nuclear Agency, Bangi, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: lingpk@utar.edu.my. Tel: 603-41079802 ext 132. Fax: 603-41079803.

Abbreviations: MS, Murashige and Skoog medium; 2,4-D, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid; NAA, naphthaleneacetic acid; picloram, 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloro picolinic acid; PGRs, plant growth regulators.

Accepted 11 April, 2008

The usage of medicinal plants in traditional medication has gained the attraction from global and local markets, mainly to cure diseases or simply for health maintenance. Callus cultures were initiated from the endosperm of the medicinal plant Cycas revoluta, cultured on half-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 30 g/L sucrose and various concentrations (5, 10 and 20 µM) of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 1-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram). Explants treated with various auxins formed calli with different morphologies. In the induction studies, 20 µM picloram was the most efficient formulation for callus formation. The callus was formed after 17.8 ± 0.5 days in the medium. However, callus was not formed in the control medium (MSO) and medium supplemented with 20 µM 2,4-D. Calli were successfully maintained in 10 µM picloram at normal photoperiod (16 h light, 8 h dark). The calli treated with10 µM picloram that incubated in 24 h dark condition was found to exhibit less browning effects. Addition of 1 g/L polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) aided in overcoming the browning effects by absorbing the phenolic compounds in the medium. The combination of auxin (10 µM picloram) and cytokinin (10 µM kinetin) was able to multiply more friable and yellowish-green calli.

Key words: Cycas revoluta, callus cultures, phenolic compounds, medicinal plant.