Improved in vitro propagation and direct acclimatization of Cryptocoryne wendtii in aquarium in the presence of aquarium fish Puntius tetrazona (Bleeker)

Abstract

Cryptocoryne wendtii is an important ornamental aquatic plant and has difficulties in conventional cultivation. In the present study, we propose an efficient in vitro propagation and acclimatization protocols for C. wendtii. The highest number of shoots was achieved on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 4.0 mg/L BA+1.0 mg/L IBA. In the second subculture, the number of shoots per explant increased from 7.2 to 51.8 in this medium. The shoot length per explant, the percentage of shoots rooted, and the number of roots per shoot were maximum in MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L IBA. The in vitro rootless and rooted shoots were acclimatized in aquariums containing different substrates [Calcite (Ca), River Sand (RS), Zeolite (Ze) and Shell Grit (SG)] and tetrazona fish Puntius tetrazona (Bleeker). One third of the water in the aquariums was replaced with fresh tap water every two weeks and the water analyses were carried out before replacement of aquarium water everytime. All shoots were successfully acclimatized for a period of 3 months. The RS and rooted shoot explants were found to be more effective than the other substrates, and rootless shoots in terms of all parameters that were tested.