IN VITRO MICROPROPAGATION OF SAM THAP TU (Decaschistia sp.)

Abstract

Sam thap tu (Decaschistia sp.), which belongs to the Malvaceae family, is an herbal plant used in traditional medicine due to its high contents of pharmaceutical compounds and abilities to improve health, increase vitality and prevent neurasthenia. To develop a protocol for in vitro propagation of Decaschistia sp., this study was conducted with three experiments: (1) Evaluating the effects of BA and αNAA concentrations on shoot multiplication; (2) Assessing the effects of αNAA and IBA concentrations on rooting; (3) Examining the effects of growth media on Decaschistia plantlet development. The results showed that in the shoot multiplication phase, the in vitro single nodal cuttings cultured on the MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/L BA and 0.5 mg/L αNAA produced the highest number of shoots, reaching 6.7 shoots and 10.8 leaves per explant after 60 days of culture. For rooting, the in vitro shoots cultured on the MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L αNAA and 0.5 mg/L IBA got the highest root numbers (6.1 roots/plantlet), root length (5.4 cm) and a 100% rooting rate after 60 days of culture. Afterwards, Decaschistia plantlets grown in a growth medium composed of 80% coconut coir and 20% rice husk ash exhibited the best growth, achieving a height of 12.14 cm, 9.08 leaves per plantlet and a 100% survival rate 40 days after transplanting.