Effects of different types of sugars and plant growth regulators on kohlrabi seedling growth and development in vitro

Abstract

Kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes), with its edible stem tuber formed at the base of the plant stem, presents a valuable source of nutrients. The potential effects of plant growth regulators (PGRs), as well as various concentrations of different sugars on the in vitro development of kohlrabi were studied. Ten-day-old kohlrabi seedlings were cultivated in vitro for 5 weeks at 18±2°C on half-strength MS media containing different concentrations of carbon source such as sucrose, fructose, glucose, xylose and mannitol, combined with or without specific plant growth regulators (N6-benzyladenine (BA), gibberellic acid (GA3), 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA)). Results showed no tuber formation in all treatments, but growth and development of treated kohlrabi seedlings was significantly affected in a distinctive manner, with a variety of morphological traits being altered in comparison to matching controls.