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  • Author or Editor: Michael J. Tanabe x
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Abstract

Leafy aerial pseudostems and decapitated crown sections from in vitro plantlets of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) were cultured in nutrient medium containing Murashige and Skoog salts, vitamins, sucrose, and various concentrations of BA and NAA. Pseudostems cultured on solid medium supplemented with 11 μM BA in combination with 0.6 μM NAA produced an average of five shoots and 15.3 roots. Decapitated crown sections cultured in liquid medium with 11 μM BA produced an average of 10 shoots and 16.3 roots. These subculture techniques could significantly contribute toward maximizing the use of high-quality rhizomes for in vitro propagation of edible ginger plantlets. Chemicals names used: 1-napthaleneacetic acid (NAA), N-(phenyl-methyl)-1H-purin-6-amine (BA).

Open Access

Noni, Morinda citrifolia, is receiving a lot of attention for its potential medicinal effects. Hawaii is an ideal growing environment for this plant, where it has been used for many purposes, including medicinal ones, by ancient Polynesians. Currently, there is a rapidly developing noni industry in the state of Hawaii. Propagation of this plant is almost exclusively by seeds, and germination generally requires a couple of months without preconditioning or about a month if mechanically scarified. We developed an in vitro protocol that significantly improves percent germination rate by altering incubation temperature and the in vitro culture basal medium. Germination time was decreased to 4 days when the embryo was extracted and exposed to 31 °C. A basal medium containing 1/2 Murashige and Skoog (M&S) salts was the most effective in reducing germination time and increasing percent germination. Stem pieces obtained from in vitro-propagated seedlings produced callus when explanted in 1/2 M&S containing various levels of naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). The most effective treatment was 0.5 μm NAA and the least effective treatment was 2 μm NAA. Treatments without NAA did not produce callus. Calli treated with 4.40 μm 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) or 8.80 μm BA were the most effective in promoting caulogenesis. We also demonstrated that the number of first generation seedlings produced from each embryo could be increased by treatment with 8.80 μm BA.

Free access

Abstract

Preplant soak application of ethephon at 750 ppm in combination with a 51°C water soak for 10 min to ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe ‘Chinese’) rhizomes increased shoot number by 122% after 16 wk and rhizome weight by 38% at harvest, compared to 21° water-soaked rhizomes. The increase in rhizome weight was correlated with number of shoots per plant. Chemical names used: (2-chloroethyl)phosphonic acid (ethephon).

Open Access