Influence of MS Medium Strengths and Types on In Vitro Shoot Multiplication and Development of Nymphaea colorata Peter

Efficient in vitro propagation systems are essential for the large-scale commercial production and conservation of the important tropical waterlilies (Nymphaea spp.), particularly elite ornamental varieties and species. This study aimed to optimize culture medium conditions by evaluating the effects of Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium strengths and types on the in vitro growth by using Nymphaea colorata as a plant model. The derived shoots obtained from sterilized turions were cultured on different MS medium concentrations and types. The results demonstrated that full-strength MS medium significantly enhanced survival percentage (100%), number of shoot/explant (1.53 shoots), number of leaf/explant (18.86 leaves) leaf width (2.66 cm), and petiole length (11.50 cm) compared to diluted formulations. Among different medium types, semi-solid MS medium effectively supported shoot growth while reducing hyperhydration, a common issue observed in liquid cultures. Shoots cultured on semi-solid MS medium exhibited well-developed leaves and elongated petioles, making them more suitable for subsequent acclimatization. These findings highlight the importance of optimizing both nutrient composition and the physical state of the culture medium to enhance micropropagation efficiency in Nymphaea colorata. The use of full-strength MS medium in combination with semi-solid culture conditions offers a promising approach for high-quality plantlet production subsequent large-scale propagation and conservation of elite waterlily genotypes