Novel cultivation techniques for water lily (Nymphaea micrantha Guill. & Perr) production based on in vitro technology

Water lily (Nymphaea micrantha Guill. & Perr) is an aquatic plant that is well known for its nutritional value and medicinal uses. The lack of adequate information regarding propagation and farming techniques has led to the low utilization of this valuable plant. To address the knowledge gap in the use of water lily rhizomes as explants in tissue culture, in this study, the processes of sterilization, induction, proliferation, and rooting in water lily tissue culture are examined. Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the best methods, materials, and concentrations to develop an ideal method for producing water lily plants. Disinfection with 75% C₂H₅OH for 2 min + 0.1% HgCl₂ for 15 min produced the best results, with a contamination rate of 30% and a browning rate of 25%, according to the data. The results indicated that indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) is the optimal plant growth regulator for the induction of water lily rhizomes. Medium containing 3 mg L^-1 of 6-BA was most suitable for the induction of water lily adventitious shoots, with an induction rate of up to 80% and a yield of 2 to 8 shoots. The induction rate of water lily adventitious shoots approached 80% in medium supplemented with 3 mg L^-1 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA). The best medium for inducing root development contained IBA at a concentration of 0.5 mg L^-1, which resulted in rapid root elongation. The best tissue culture techniques identified in the present study were successful in growing full water lily plants with good and vigorous growth from tuberous rhizomes to flowering plants. This early success in water lily tissue culture technology provides crucial technical assistance for ex vitro preservation and water lily seedling growth. This study offers a workable answer to one of the most significant obstacles preventing the spread of the use of water lily culture by outlining a good technique that results in robust and healthy seedlings, which helps lower the cost of cultivation.