"Perfection from generation to generation" "Micropropagation of Kalanchoe tubiflora (Harvey) Hamet" Dariusz Kulus University of Technology and Life Sciences in Bydgoszcz, Faculty of Agriculture and Biotechnology,Department of Ornamental Plants and Vegetable Crops - Laboratory of Biotechnology, ul. Bernardyńska 6, 85-029 Bydgoszcz e-mail: dkulus@gmail.com Regeneration of propagules from the leaves

Description popularizing the research project

Only those who have a brother or a sister know how much siblings can differ. Many parents have pondered over the phenomenon and they usually conclude that the situation has more advantages than disadvantages. All the disadvantages together would not outweigh the advantages, as there are no ideals in any of the human generations. Even if one was born, their offspring, 'tainted' with the genes of the other parent, would not retain the suit of perfect qualities.
It is slightly different with 'perfection' of plant varieties. When an ideal is bred - as a result of accidental mutations, or, as it is more and more common, as a result of meticulous work of biotechnologists patiently doing the genetic jigsaw puzzle; it cannot be wasted through pollinating with alien 'imperfect' pollen. The immaculate perfection has to be transferred to the next generation. Then the creation of biotechnologists will be taken by these who will multiply the perfection in laboratory conditions. If the cloning procedure is successful, then the world sometimes learns about a new variety with flowers or form so beautiful that it deserves bearing the name of: a king or a queen, a president, a general, a pope. It has become the privilege of numerous varieties of roses, tulips, clematis and many others. Their unique charm takes beholders' breath away as they admire them in private collections and botanical gardens, and the prices for their bulbs, seeds and seedlings are sky high. The more common varieties encountered in yard flower beds and gardens are multiplied in the same fashion.
It is not only beauty that inspires scientists, and not only wonders of nature are cloned. Often the value of a plant are its healing properties, which surpass its modest charm. Because of the healing metabolites scientists still try to develop the best customised methods of breeding for each species, methods that guarantee a plantation of homogeneous siblings without a flaw.
With good genes, the siblings have both stunning look and the wealth of depth. It is hard to resist a temptation and not to try to clone such an ideal.

Abstract

Kalanchoe tubiflora (Harvey) Hamet is a succulent plant native to Madagascar. Due to its unique morphology, it is a popular ornamental species. However, containing some valuable metabolites it can be also used in tumor suppression. The present work describes a simple propagation method of K. tubiflora. The stem fragments of K. tubiflora were disinfected with the following concentrations of sodium hypochlorite: 0.2% (for 10 or 20 min) 0.4% (10 or 20 min) and 0.6% (10 or 20 min). Next, the single-node explants were inoculated on a hormone-free MS medium. The produced plants were transferred to soil and grown in a greenhouse. The applied sterilization procedures were successful. Regeneration of propagules was observed. The average number of new microschoots obtained from one explant varied from about 20 to even 52. All the microshoots created adventitious roots without transferring them to a rooting medium. The plantlets were successfully acclimatized and continued their growth in the greenhouse.

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