Optimization of Culture Media Formulations for Micropropagation of Lepisanthes fruticosa

Tissue culture provides an avenue for the production of high quality clonal plants in large numbers within a short time. Here, we describe the development of protocols for reproducible in vitro micropropagation of Lepisanthes fruticosa via direct organogenesis. Shoots were initiated from two types of explants, nodes and young shoots, to establish in vitro cultures on Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) medium or Woody Plant Medium (WPM) supplemented with different concentrations of benzylaminopurine (BAP). Semi-solid WPM media containing 1 mg/L BAP was most effective in shoot initiation in both node and young shoot explants, giving 40% and 20% shoot induction, respectively. The highest rate of shoot proliferation from young shoot explants was obtained using BAP at 3.0 mg/L in combination with NAA at 1.0 mg/L in WPM culture medium. This combination of growth regulators in the medium was also suited to root initiation.