Rapid micropropagation of wild garlic (Allium victorialis var. platyphyllum) by the scooping method

Abstract

Wild garlic (Allium victorialis var. platyphyllum, AVVP) is a nontimber forest product used as an edible and medicinal vegetable. AVVP is usually propagated form offspring bulbs but it takes a long time to harvest. Using tissue culture technology could overcome this problem. This study investigated the optimal conditions for shoot multiplication, root growth, and plant growth by scooping AVVP bulbs. AVVP bulbs harvested from Ulleung Island, Korea, the main producer of AVVP, were surface-sterilized and used for in vitro propagation. Shoot multiplication was performed by the scooping method. More than five multiple shoots were induced from scooped tissue in Quoirin and Lepoivre (QL) medium containing plant growth regulators (PGRs); the maximum number of multiple shoots were induced from scooped tissue in QL medium containing 0.45 μM thidiazuron (TDZ) after 16 weeks of culture. Roots were induced directly at the base of the shoots in all treatments. In vitro rooting depended on the type of PGRs, and the best root-inducing treatment was QL medium containing 9.84 μM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Plants with in vitro roots were transferred to pots containing artificial soil and successfully acclimatized for 4 weeks. The acclimatized plants showed a survival rate of 80% after 20 weeks and gradually promoted growth depending on the acclimatization period. The results of this study will be of great help to AVVP dissemination through sustainable mass propagation.