Effect of BA and IBA on micropropagation of Cannabis sativa L. ‘Hang Kra Rog’

Abstract

‘Hang Kra Rog’ is an original Thai strain of cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.). Tissue culture methods can rapidly propagate disease-free plants. This study optimized the protocol for surface sterilization and in vitro plant regeneration from explant nodal segments for the propagation of cannabis on an industrial scale. Various Clorox concentrations and soaking periods were used for surface sterilization, with different concentrations of BA and IBA plant growth regulators added to the basal medium for micropropagation of C. sativa L. using nodal explant culture. Results showed that 10% Clorox for 20 min followed by 5% Clorox for 20 min gave the highest explant survival at 75%. Optimal shoot and root development occurred when enriched with 0.5 mg L-1 IBA, resulting in 1.00 shoots, 3.10 roots, 9.97 leaves, and a shoot length of 4.74 cm. The 2 mg L-1 BA yielded the highest number of shoots at 1.87 shoots and resulted in a large callus size of 1.19 cm and callus fresh weight of 0.32 g.