Establishing in vitro cultures of Strelitzia reginae using shoot tip explants

A protocol was developed for micropropagation of bird of paradise, (Strelitzia reginae Ait.) by using terminal buds of rhizomes. Browning of explants was controlled effectively by dipping the explants in ascorbic acid at 150 mg/l and by the addition of 200 mg/l ascorbic acid to the medium. Shoot explants were transferred to fresh Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium at 3 days intervals after removing dead tissues by scraping. Culture establishment and multiple shoot induction were achieved on MS medium containing 0.5 mg/l IBA and 7 mg/l BAP, in addition to 200 mg/l ascorbic acid and sucrose 30 g/l. Multiple shoots were then successfully rooted on in vitro on medium containing 2.5 mg/l IBA.