Micropropagation of Kaempferia spp. (K. galanga L. and K. rotunda L.)

Abstract

Protocols were standardised for micropropagation of Kaempferia galanga and K. rotunda. Young sprouting buds of both the species could be established in Murashige and Skoog basal medium supplemented with 0.5 mgl-l kinetin and 1.5% sucrose solidified with 0.7% agar. The buds produced multiple shoots and well developed roots in Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 0.5mgJ-l 0:naphthaleneacetic acid and 1.0 mgl-l 6-benzylaminopurine. A multiplication ratio of 1:10 and 1:6 with an average of 7 and 5 roots per shoot was obtained in K. galanga and K. rotunda, respectively. The micropropagated plants were successfully planted out in pots with over 90 per cent survival. The morphological characters and yield of these two species for three crop seasons were also studied.