DEVELOPMENT OF IN-VITRO PROPAGATION PROTOCOL FOR THE MASS PROPAGATION OF TURMERIC (Curcuma longa L.) USING TISSUE CULTURE TECHNIQUES

Abstract

The growing demand for high-quality, disease-free turmeric (Curcuma longa Linn.) planting materials in the Philippines is limited by traditional propagation methods and the high cost of micropropagation. This study aimed to develop an efficient, cost-effective in vitro propagation protocol by optimizing sterilization, hormonal treatments, culture systems, and acclimatization methods. Explants from disease-free rhizomes were sterilized using varying sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) concentrations (40–60%) and soaking times (10–20 min). Results showed that 60% NaClO for 10–20 minutes provided optimal sterilization and survival. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with Thidiazuron (TDZ) at 2.0–2.5 mg/L promoted bud emergence, while 0.01 mg/L enhanced root development. The double-phase culture system (DPS) produced longer, heavier roots than the conventional system (CMS), though with higher contamination (35%) and lower survival (65% vs. 85%). Hydroponic acclimatization outperformed soil, yielding superior shoot and root growth with 100% survival. Additionally, hydroponic supplementation with 1.00 mL seaweed extract produced the most vigorous growth, while both low (0.50 mL) and excessive (1.50 mL) levels were less effective. Overall, the optimized sterilization, TDZ application, and hydroponic acclimatization significantly improved turmeric micropropagation efficiency, offering a practical approach for large-scale, high-quality plantlet production.