Abstract:
The bark of tandui (Mangifera rufocostata Kostrem.) is commonly used as a medicine for
diabetes. Regeneration of this plant is difficult, and continuous harvesting of the bark leads
to a decrease in the plant population. The purpose of this research is to apply tissue culture
techniques for the propagation of tandui. Different antioxidants (KNO3,
polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), Murashige and Skoog (MS) media + PVP, and MS + ascorbic
acid) and varying concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) (0.8, 1.0, 1.2,
and 1.4 mg L–1) were tested for embryogenic tandui. The application of KNO3 and PVP
suppressed the formation of browning in the media and explant of tandui. Soaking the
explants in KNO3 and PVP reduce browning to 35% and 20%, respectively. The results also
showed that increasing the concentration of 2,4-D enhanced the percentage of embryogenic
tandui. Supplementing the media with 1.4 mg L–1 2,4-D resulted in 90% of embryogenic
tandui. This study demonstrates that pre-soaking explants in antioxidants significantly
reduces media browning, and supplementation of MS media with 2,4-D enhance
embryogenic process. Thus, micropropagation of tandui could be achieved on a commercial
basis.
