A comparative analysis of in vitro responses of anthurium under temporary immersion (RITA^®)

Gene banks employ diversity assessments to characterize the genetic integrity of the collection and design appropriate conservation protocols and efficient maintenance of germplasm. The in vitro behavior of the University of Hawaii anthurium germplasm collection has not been characterized to date, and thus appropriate genotype-specific protocols have yet to be identified. The responses of ten accessions were evaluated under the RITA^® temporary immersion system. Two-node cuttings from each accession were placed in RITA^® bioreactors with liquid medium containing 0.3 MS salts,0.2 mg L^‑1 BA, 15% coconut water and 20 g L^‑1 sucrose. Primary shoots were excised after 45 days to allow axillary buds to develop into secondary shoots. Percentages of explants with shoots, number of primary shoots per RITA^® vessel, shoot length, and total axillary bud mass volume were noted. Bud masses were placed on a solid medium containing ½ MS salts with 15% coconut water, 20 g L^‑1 sucrose and 2 g L^‑1 gellan gum for further shoot development and growth. The degree of bud formation and number of secondary shoots per RITA^® vessel were assessed after another 45 days. Parameters were analyzed using Welch’s ANOVA and two-step cluster analysis. Clusters were cross-referenced with pedigree and breeding records. Significant differences in in vitro production of primary and secondary shoots per RITA^® vessel, degree of basal mass formation, and axillary bud mass volume among the genotypes were observed. Cluster analysis of quantitative and qualitative parameters revealed five clusters, indicating that parentage influenced in vitro shoot production particularly in lines with Anthurium andraeanum, A. amnicola, A. formosum, and A. kamemotoanum in their background. Pedigree and breeding records are valuable resources for predicting response profiles of anthurium in vitro performance. Assessment of proliferative diversity will provide guidelines for future protocol development in the in vitro anthurium germplasm collection.