Efficient in vitro plantlets regeneration from leaf explant of Haworthia retusa, an important ornamental succulent

This study was conducted to establish an efficient in vitro plantlet regeneration protocol using the ex vitro leaves as explants for Haworthia retusa. Leaf tissues were cultured on liquid full-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/L indole 3-butyric acids (IBA) for callus induction, followed by sub-cultured to solid medium for callus proliferation. Callus was then transferred to a fresh medium supplemented with 6-benzyl amino adenine (BA) for shoot development. The result showed that the maximum rate of shoot regeneration (100%), number of shoots per explant (43), and shoot height (9.4 mm) were recorded on the solid MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L BA and 30 g/L sucrose. IBA improved rooting, whereas, NAA (naphthaleneacetic acid) causes calli to form at the base of the shoots. The half-strength MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L IBA provided the best rooting response for the shoot. This medium formulation resulted in the highest rooting rate (100%) and the highest mean root number (5 roots/explant). The result of the present study would be helpful for the mass propagation of commercially important H. retusa.