Embryogenesis and plant regeneration from ovary derived callus cultures of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rose.)

Ovary explants from 1-2 week old flowers of ginger (Zingiber officinale) developed profuse callus in Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented either with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (1 mgl-1) alone or with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (0.5 mgl-1) and benzyladenine (1 mgl-1). The callus later turned embryogenic and produced white globular embryoid like structures when cultured on modified Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with benzyl adenine (10 mgl-1) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (0.2 mgl-1). The embroyoid formation was more pronounced when growth regulators were removed from the culture medium after initial embryogenesis. Some of the embryoids developed into complete plantlets. The primary embryoids directly produced secondary embryoids in subsequent cultures on growth regulator free medium. The individual embryoids developed into plantlets with better rooting when a-naphthalene acetic acid (1 mgl-1) was added to the culture medium. About 80 per cent of these plantlets were established in soil. &nbsp

In vitro proliferation of nutmeg aril (mace) by tissue culture

Mace from Myristica fragrans Routt. is one of the most expensive of spices. Mace tissue could be successfully multiplied on Me Cown's Woody Plant Medium (WPM) supplemented with 0.5 mgl-1 of IBA. The multiplied tissue retained both the colour and flavour components even after 2 months of culture indicating that their biosynthesis is continuing in culture. Gas chromatographic analysis of the mace oil extracted from the cultured tissue was similar to that of original mace in its qualitative profile. &nbsp

Direct regeneration of plant lets from immature inflorescenee of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) by tissue culture

Immature inflorescences of ginger when cultured on MS revised medium supplemented with 10 mg 1-1 BA and 0.2 mgl-1 2, 4-D re~ulted in the conversion of floral buds into vegetative buds and these later developed into plantlets dil',ectly without intervening callus phase. About 38% of the buds produced multiple shoots ranging from 5-25. When individual flowers were cultured separately on the same medium plantlets developed from the ovary in 45% of cases. These plantlets were made to develop good root system on MS medium with 1 mgl-1 NAA. These rooted plantlets established easily in the soil. In some of the cuI tures the ovaries developed into fruits. &nbsp

In vitro proliferation of nutmeg aril (mace) by tissue culture

Mace from Myristica fragrans Routt. is one of the most expensive of spices. Mace tissue could be successfully multiplied on Me Cown's Woody Plant Medium (WPM) supplemented with 0.5 mgl-1 of IBA. The multiplied tissue retained both the colour and flavour components even after 2 months of culture indicating that their biosynthesis is continuing in culture. Gas chromatographic analysis of the mace oil extracted from the cultured tissue was similar to that of original mace in its qualitative profile. &nbsp