Effect of temperature on shoot tip culture of Paris polyphylla var. chinensis (Franch.) Hara

Bioactive compounds from rhizome of Paris polyphylla var. chinensis (PPC) have been reported to have many pharmaceutical activities such as antitumor, anticancer and hemostatic [1]. However, the propagation of PPC had become a severe problem due to deforestation and overharvesting. Hence, appropriate methods are required for propagation [2]. The study of PPC rhizome shoot tip culture was limited by bacterial contamination in normal tissue culture laboratory. Therefore, environmental factors such as temperature were studied on the propagation of shoot tip explants of PPC in MS free hormone medium. They were cultured in a gradient incubator at 5 to 18 °C for 45 days. It was found that temperature is a crucial factor controlling in vitro culture of PPC, and the temperature between 14 to 16 °C were better than other temperature treatments in controlling endophytic bacteria and PPC growth. The shoot tip explants cultured at this range of temperature grow up to a stem of 7.5 cm length. At a temperature lower than 14 °C, the shoot tip explants could not grow. At the temperature higher than 18 °C, the shoot tip explants did not grow because the explants were contaminated by endophytic bacteria. It could be concluded that the temperature between 14 to 16 °C is the suitable culturing condition for shoot tip culture of PPC.

Acknowledgements: We are grateful to National Research Council of Thailand for supporting this project.

Keywords: Paris polyphylla var. chinensis, in vitro culture

References:

[1] The Pharmacopoeia Commission of PRC. Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China 2010 Edition. Beijing: Chemical Industry Publishing House; 2010: 183.

[2] Rout GR, Samantaray S, Das P. In vitro manipulation and propagation of medicinal plants. Biotech Advan 2000; 18: 91 – 120.