Sarcouncil Journal of Agriculture

Abstract: The quest for alternative matrices for plant tissue culture is a continuing process. Agar is one of the most popular solidifying agents in plant tissue culture. High price of pure grade agar and fear of over exploitation of its resources caused searching for low cost alternatives. In this study, liquid medium with silica gel, glass beads and sands substratum and agar in two steps of micro propagation (shoot proliferation and root induction) were investigated. The shoot multiplication in the cytokinins hormone of 2.5mg/l BA and 0.5mg/l KN supported by 7g/l agar and alternative matrices has been produced 33.1 shoots and 5.3 shoot length in sands and agar. There is no significant difference in shoot number and shoot length on the agar and sands on shoot multiplication and plant, and there is significant difference in glass beads and silica gel compared with sand/agar in the shoot multiplication, and there is highly significance in shoot length in the matrices of plant support. Pineapple root induced in auxins hormone in vitro culture of plant propagation in ½ MS media, 30g/l sugar, 1mg/l NAA and 7g/l agar. The higher root number in sands 10.6 and followed 10 in silica gel and agar supported matrices. The root length also none significant difference among means treatments in agar, glass beads and sands. However, there is a significance difference with silica gel in root length. The use of silica gel, glass beads and sands as a support matrix to the explants affords better aeration.