Effect of plant growth regulators on micropropagation of Sphenostylis stenocarpa and Mucuna flagellipes, crops of African origin

Markéta Smutná

Bachelor's thesis

Abstract:

Mucuna flagellipes and Sphenostylis stenocarpa are plants from the family Fabaceae originating in Africa. Both legumes produce seeds high in protein, Sphenostylis stenocarpa also produces edible underground tubers rich in starch. Despite their nutritional potential, they remain relatively unknown and underutilized. The aim of this thesis was to optimize the micropropagation of Mucuna flagellipes and Sphenostylis stenocarpa. For the establishment of in vitro cultures plant material surface sterilization was used; shoots of Mucuna flagellipes were treated with 70% EtOH for 60 s followed by 2% NaClO and seeds of Sphenostylis stenocarpa were sterilized using 96% EtOH for 10 s followed by 2% NaClO. The plant material of Mucuna flagellipes was subcultured on MS medium (Murashige & Skoog, 1962) every six weeks to obtain plant material. The experiment was carried out on MS medium with the addition of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) or zeatin (ZEA) at concentrations of 0.2, 0.5, and 1 mg.l-1. The highest number of shoots (4.70 ± 0.19) was obtained on MS medium with 1 mg.l-1 ZEA. For rooting, ½ MS medium with the addition of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) at concentrations of 0.1 and 0.5 mg.l-1 was tested. The highest number of roots (2.80 ± 0.21) was obtained on ½ MS medium without any plant growth regulators (PGRs). Well-rooted plants were then transferred ex vitro. The survival rate after three weeks in the greenhouse was 100%. For Sphenostylis stenocarpa, germinated seeds were subcultured on MS medium. Due to the production of callus, different basal media with various concentrations and combinations of BAP, ZEA, α – naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), and adenine sulphate (AS) were tested. Growth of new shoots was observed on MS medium supplemented with 0.2 mg.l-1 BAP and 30 mg.l-1 AS. However, no combination of PGRs tested led to the callus inhibition and the growth of shoots in length that would allow further propagation.

Keywords

Auxin, cytokinin, in vitro propagation, Mucuna flagellipes, Sphenostylis stenocarpa

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 15. 4. 2024

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 30. 5. 2024
• Supervisor: Ing. Iva Viehmannová, Ph.D.
• Reader: Jan Vítámvás, Ph.D.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Bachelor programme:
Tropical Agriculture