Abstract:
The use of low-cost alternatives for in vitro culture media and plant growth hormone is crucial to
minimize the cost of production. This study evaluated the bio-stimulatory effects of Kappaphycus
alvarezii (KA) and Sargassum crassifolium (SC) seaweed extracts on the growth performance of in
vitro propagated Anthurium andraeanum (Anthurium). Ten treatments with sixteen replicates for
each treatment were used in this study. Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium with and without
6-Benzyl Amino Purine (BAP) were used as the two control treatments. Other treatments were
prepared by separately incorporating 5% and 10% of KA or SC extracts into MS medium with and
without BAP. Initial plant height (35±5 mm), number of leaves (5±2), number of roots (2±1), and
number of shoots (0±0) were recorded before establishing the plantlets. The experiments were
conducted for a period of three months. Shoot and root formation, shoot elongation, and leaf
generation data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA. The control medium supplemented with BAP
recorded a maximum plant height of 45.75 mm, a maximum number of leaves as 18.43, a maximum
number of roots as 6.88, and a maximum number of shoots as 5.19. The control without BAP
recorded a maximum plant height of 43.44 mm, a maximum number of leaves as 13.38, a maximum
number of roots as 6.75, and a maximum number of shoots as 2.44. Anthurium plantlets in MS
medium (without BAP) with 5% KA extract recorded significantly higher (p<0.05) plant height
(70.25±12.09 mm), and number of roots (10.44±1.95). But a higher number of leaves (21.75±4.67)
recorded in this media than in the controls without significance (p>0.05). The highest number of
shoots (5.94±2.90) was recorded in MS medium supplemented with BAP and 5% KA extract without
significance (p>0.05) compared to the controls. MS medium with 10% SC and without BAP recorded
higher plant height (62.69±1.43 mm) and number of roots (7.94±2.47) without significance (p>0.05)
compared to controls. The study revealed that KA extract can be incorporated as an additive in
Anthurium andraeanum tissue culture media due to the abundance of nutrition and hormones
required for successful growth.
