Potential use of Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) and Kessibissan (Cyclea peltata L.) as media additives for Anthurium tissue culture

Abstract

-Efforts to optimize protocols, explore alternative substances, and advance research are critical to making tissue culture a sustainable and cost-effective method for mass plant propagation. Hence, the present study was conducted at the Floriculture Research and Development Unit of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya. The objective was to evaluate the potential of using Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) and Kesibissan (Cyclea peltata L.) as nutrient additives and gelling medium for Anthurium tissue culture. The experiment was designed using a Complete Randomized Design with seven treatments, and each experiment was replicated 15 times.The number of leaves, shoots and roots per plantlet and the explant height were measured. Based on the results, our study found that supplementing Aloe vera and Kesibissan extracts had a substantial impact on the growth parameters of Anthurium explants after one month of incubation period. Kessibissan extracts performed well on Anthurium explant growth, especially in terms of the number of leaves, roots, and plantlet height. Meanwhile, the treatment involving 700 ml of MS media and 300 ml of Aloe vera extract proved to be the most successful for Anthurium, resulting in improved leaf, root, and shoot development. Overall, our findings give useful information for improving the growth of this attractive plant and may have applications for horticultural operations, highlighting the potential benefits of natural extracts in plant tissue culture.