In vitro micropropagation of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

This study was conducted to refine a micropropagation method of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) in vitro. When young shoots were cultured on media with various concentrations of BA or TDZ alone, LS medium containing $5.0\;mgl^{-1}$ BA was found favorable for shoot proliferation from young shoots with a mean of 4.2 shoots. Using BA together with IAA, more shoots were obtained on LS medium containing $5.0\;mgl^{-1}$ BA and $1.0\;mgl^{-1}$ IAA with a mean of 5.7 shoots. In liquid medium, number of shoots and fresh weight per explant increased significantly. The best shoot proliferation and increasing of fresh weight were achieved on LS liquid medium containing $5.0\;mgl^{-1}$ BA and $1.0\;mgl^{-1}$ IAA with 6.9 shoots and more than 4,000 mg fresh weight. Of the different concentrations of LS salt, double strength of LS medium provided the highest shoot proliferation with 7.3 shoots, and fresh weight with 5,539 mg per explant. Shoot proliferation on LS medium containing $50\;gl^{-1}$ sucrose had better results with 8.7 shoots and 5,979 mg per explant in fresh weight than other conditions. In conclusion, the optimal level for shoot proliferation and biomass increase of water hyacinth was attained with the application of the double strength of LS medium containing $5.0\;mgl^{-1}$ BA, $1.0\;mgl^{-1}$ IAA and $50\;gl^{-1}$ sucrose.