The effect of cytokinin type and concentration on multiplication rate of spathiphyllum (fam. Araceae)

We studied optimization of cytokinin type and concentration of tissue culture medium for shoot proliferation in Spathiphyllum Cv. Sweet Pablo. The shoots were subcultured in a MS medium supplemented with either of cytokinins; BA (6-Benzylaminopurine), PBA [(N-Benzyl-9-(2-tetrahydropyranyl) adenine] and MS medium without growth regulator as a control. As indicators of the success of tissue culture, the multiplication rate, the average number and fresh weight of auxiliary shoots were recorded. At a continuous multiplication of Spathiphyllum Sweet Pablo on 1 mg L 1 BA media, the multiplication rate began to increase starting from the 1st subculture and reached its maximum at the 4th subculture with 8.49 shoots/plant. The result indicated that PBA is a more favorable cytokinin source than BA to obtain healthy and vigorous shoots in Spathiphyllum multiplication medium.