Micropropagation of wasabi plant (Wasabia japonica Matsumura) by shoot apex culture

Abstract

The mass propagation technique by shoot apex culture of the wasabi plant (Wasabia japonica Matsumura) was established as follows:

1. Shoot apexes isolated from rhizomes were used as explants. In order to regenerate vigorous shoots, the explants were cultured on the half-strength MS basal medium supplemented with antibiotics.

2. For optimal multiple-shoots, the explants were cultured on the half-strength MS basal medium supplemented with a combination of BA at 0.1 mg/l and NAA at 0.02 mg/l within 30 days of culture. The addition of the activated charcoal at 0.1g/l to the root regeneration medium, which had been supplemented with 0.1mg/l of NAA, was necessary.

The result also showed that, after 8 months of transplantation and acclimatization, the plants with survival rate of 90-97% began to shoot and grew well under the greenhouse conditions.

Through this study, a large number of synchronous and bacteria-free plantlets were simultaneously obtained to meet the great demand of the local farmers and the japanese-owned enterprises in Dalat region for growing and processing the wasabi plant.