Multiplication of curcuma species by tissue culture

Callus induction starting from the rhizome tissue of plants of three CURCUMA species: CURCUMA ZEDOARIA Roscoe, C. DOMESTICA Valeton, and C. AROMATICA Salisbury (Zingiberaceae) was performed. Successful callus formation was obtained in all three species using Murashige-Skoog's (MS) medium supplemented with 1-naphthalene-acetic acid (NAA) (1 ppm) and kinetin (0.1 ppm). Plantlet formation of C. ZEDOARIA from stem tips was successfully conducted on MS medium containing NAA (0-1 ppm) or 6-benzyladenine (BA)(0-3 ppm) at 26 degrees C under the condition of 12 h photoperiod. Production of essential oil in tissue-cultured plants of C. ZEDOARIA were examined using gas chromatography and the same gas chromatogram patterns of essential oil as in the mother plants were detected.