Micropropagation of the Ornamental Aquatic Plant, Aponogeton ulvaceus, from Immature Tuber Explants

The aquatic monocot, Aponogeton ulvaceus Baker, is endemic to Madagascar and is a commercially valuable ornamental aquarium plant. Members of the genus Aponogeton contain a spectrum of phytochemicals associated with a broad range of biological activities. However, much remains to be known about this genus, and the A. ulvaceus population is declining due to anthropogenic activities and climate change. To address these challenges, adopting plant tissue culture technology will be a viable solution for the sustainable production of pest- and pathogen-free plants to meet the demands of the ornamental aquatic plant trade, for conservation and research purposes. A simple micropropagation protocol for A. ulvaceus is described here, starting with seeds to establish sterile stock plants, from which immature tubers were acquired as explants for indirect organogenesis.