Abstract
Background and aims: Aloe vera has been used medicinally for several thousands of years in many cultures from Egypt, Greece, and Rome to China, India, and etc. Although Aloe barbadensis propagates vegetative manner in its natural state, but propagation is too slow for commercial plant production. To overcome slow propagation rate, micropropagation will be a very useful technique for mass multiplication of Aloe vera. The aim of this study was to investigate and establish an effective method for aseptic micropropagation of Aloe vera.
Methods: This research was an experimental study that was conducted in tissue culture lab, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, BHU, Varanasi, India to develop a protocol for surface sterilization of Aloe vera explants. 42 treatments carried out for the shoot tip, apical meristem and rhizome discs of Aloe explant.
Results: Using of Tween 20 (5 drops) for 10 mints, Bavistin 1% for 10 mints and NaOCl (1.0%) for 6 minutes followed by rinsing sterilized distilled water showed the higher survival explants (70%) and asepsis was 81% and just 11% percent of the explants contaminated after 2 weeks. But the highest survived explants was for Tween 20 (5 drops) 10 minutes, Bavistin 1%; 10 minutes and Ca(ClO)2 (3.25.0%) 6 minutes (77% survival) and asepsis was 81% and only 11% of the explants contaminated after 2 weeks.
Conclusion: In the present study, calcium hypochlorite with the highest asepsis, survival of explant and normally growth were more suitable than sodium hypochlorite for surface sterilization of Aloe vera.