Optimization of surface sterilization of Alternanthera reineckii for tissue culture studies

Surface sterilization is the first stage in tissue culture studies. After this stage, multiple productions of plants can possible. The present study presents surface sterilization studies for the production of Alternanthera reineckii Briq. by tissue culture. For the pre-sterilization process, A. reineckii was kept under the tap water flowing for 20 min. For surface sterilization, the parts cut at length 3-5 cm from the upper body were treated with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) at different time (15 and 30 min) and concentrations (10-30%). The nodal explants were isolated and transferred to the nutrient medium of Murashige and Skoog (1962) which did not contain a plant growth regulator. The first contamination in the culture environment began to be observed on the 6th day. More bacterial contamination was observed in culture media. The regeneration capacity of the explants in highly H2O2 exposure decreased considerably. Whitening and yellowing were detected in some explants. Contamination rates in the explants treated with H2O2 ranged from 20 to 100%. The values of sterile and live explants were different with H2O2. The highest sterile and live explants (60%) were detected in explants with 25% H2O2 for 15 min followed by explants (30%) with 15% H2O2 for 30 min. The sterile and live explants obtained from this were transferred in non-plant growth media and stocked for propagation studies. This study may help researchers for the sterilization procedures required for in vitro production of A. reineckii