Micropropagation and callogenesis of Curcuma zedoaria Roscoe

Curcuma zedoaria Roscoe (zedoary) is a medicinal properties-bearing Zingiberaceae from which rhizomes are commercially exploited. The objective of this work was to establish an in vitro protocol for micropropagation and callogenesis of Curcuma zedoaria Roscoe as alternative to improve plant production, turning economically feasible the exploitation of its secondary metabolites which present medicinal properties. Micropropagation by using shoot apexes produced by rhizome and from in vitro plants were carried out on Murashige & Skoog medium supplemented with 2.0 mg L-1 benzyl amino purine and 30 g L-1 sucrose. Plantlets were satisfactorily acclimated to greenhouse conditions by using plastic cover for at least 10 days. Treatment with endomycorrhiza at the ex vitro transferring time was beneficial to acclimatization, improving plant growth and development. Callus induction and growth were obtained by inoculating root segments on Murashige & Skoog medium supplemented with 1.0 mg L-1 naphtalene acetic acid and incubation in the dark at 25+/-2degreesC. Cell suspension cultures were established on liquid medium of same chemical composition and same culture conditions and a growth curve was obtained.