NEW SHIPPING SYSTEM FOR CURCUMA HYBRID PLANTLETS CULTURED FROM TWIN-FLASKS TEMPORARY IMMERSION BIOREACTOR

A procedure for shipping single rooted plantlets of Curcuma to foreign countries has been developed, without solid medium, in sterilised plastic boxes. The advantage of this system is that it is light weight and easy to handle when transplanting. In this study, different preparation times and the effects of additional solid or liquid medium were examined. Curcuma hybrid plantlets cultured from twin-flask temporary immersion bioreactors (TIB) were cut into single plantlets with a size of 3-5 cm. Then they were transferred to 600 ml plastic containers with 10 or 20 ml of solid or liquid media for one, two, and three weeks as a preparatory procedure before shipping. Results showed that Curcuma plantlets cultured in liquid medium were stronger, had better growth rates and could be kept for a much longer period compared to those cultured in solid medium. In addition, culture in 20 ml liquid medium produced plants of better quality and growth with a longer storage period compared to those cultured in 10 ml medium. Plantlets kept for one week were much stronger and had 100% survival rate after transplanting in comparison to plantlets kept for two and three weeks. However, if Curcuma hybrid plantlets were to be shipped for more than three weeks, an additional 20 ml liquid medium should be added in the second week of culture.