THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT SUCROSE CONCENTRATIONS ON THE REGENERATION AREA OF Riccia fluitans L., A MEDICINAL AQUATIC PLANT

Carbon sources are very important for plants in vitro growth and development. Sucrose is one of these carbon sources. Determination of sucrose concentration for optimum plant production is required. In this study, the effects of different sucrose concentrations on the in vitro production of the Riccia fluitans L. were investigated. Surface sterilization of the R. fluitans was achieved after 5 min of application with 15% hydrogen peroxide. Four-week-old plants grown in sterile culture medium were equally divided and transferred to MS medium supplemented with 0, 5, 10, 20, 30 and 40 mg/L sucrose and 0.25 mg/L Zeatin. Shoot regeneration values were obtained as 100% in all culture media. Regeneration area values of R. fluitans were determined between 12.63 ± 1.79 - 22.34 ± 1.82 cm2. The maximum regeneration area was obtained in MS nutrient medium including 30 g/L sucrose (22.34 ± 1.82 cm2), which is 76.88% more than control. Generally, the regeneration capacity of the plant increased up to 30 g/L sucrose application. The minimum regeneration area value (12.63 ± 1.79 cm2 was determined in the control group and then recorded in cultures containing 5 mg/L sucrose (14.44 ± 0.92 cm2). Plants produced in in vitro conditions were accustomed to external conditions successfully. These results can help the production of R. fluitans with tissue culture techniques.