In vitro direct organogenesis of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) using different types of explants

Abstract

Kenaf (Hisbiscus cannabinus L.) is grown mainly for its fiber. In Malaysia, this species is relatively known as a new plant and has a potential to be cultivated and improved to produce high quality of fibers. Direct organogenesis of explants is one of the ways to provide high quality of seedling for the purpose. This study aimed to develop protocol for producing kenaf plantlets through direct organogenesis of explants. Different types of explants (shoot tips, nodes, leaves, and petioles) of kenaf were surface sterilized and cultured on the MS media supplemented with different combination of hormones. The results showed that shoot could be induced using different combination of hormones in both shoot tip and node cultures, but not in leaf and petiole cultures. On the other hand, root could form in all cultures easily even on MS basal media without hormones added.