In Vitro Conservation of Zingiber brachystachys Triboun & K. Larsen; an Endemic Species in Thailand

Zingiber brachystachys Triboun & K. Larsen, an endemic species found in a specific area of Thailand with a limited distribution in natural conditions, is classified in Zingiberacaeae Family. This species is asexually propagated. The stem and rhizome contain natural essential oil which may have economic potential in the future. The conservation of endemic plant resources through plant tissue culture techniques is crucial to preserve rare species that might be risk of extinction due to environmental changes or natural disasters. This study was conducted to apply tissue culture techniques to the multiplication and conservation of this species. Micropropogation and in vitro conservation of Z. brachystachys were done by using various concentrations of plant growth regulators, media and sucrose. The result indicated that the highest shoot number of Z. brachystachys from MS medium supplemented with 3 mg/l BA was 20.9 shoots per explant. After being cultured with 12 media formulations, it was found that the most suitable media for slow growth storage of Z. brachystachys was ½MS or ¼MS supplemented with 15 g/l sucrose. This species can survive for more than 8 months without any subculture in these 2 media formulations