Manglietiastrum sinicum Y.W. Law is a critically endangered species with great ornamental and commercial value, which urgently requires protection. We tested different combinations of basal media and plant growth regulators to determine (i) the optimal conditions for bud induction and proliferation of explants and (ii) optimal rooting conditions. RAPD- and ISSR-PCR were used to assess the genetic fidelity of regenerated plantlets. Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) supplemented with 0.5 mg/L 6-benzyladenine (BA) and 0.05 mg/L indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) is the optimal medium for bud induction (100% induction). MSM medium (a special basal medium for M. sinicum) was more suitable for the efficient proliferation and rooting of M. sinicum. Maximum bud proliferation rate (446.20%) was obtained on MSM, with 0.4 mg/L BA, 0.5 mg/L kinetin, and 0.06 mg/L IBA, while maximum root induction rate (88.89%) was obtained on MSM supplemented with 0.4 mg/L 1-naphthylacetic acid and 1.0 mg/L IBA with a 7-day initial darkness treatment. The rooted plantlets were transferred to a substrate containing peat soil, perlite, coconut chaff, and bark (volume ratio 2:1:1:1), with a resulting survival rate of 92.2%. RAPD and ISSR markers confirmed the genetic uniformity and stability of regenerated plants.
Keywords: bud induction; bud proliferation; culture conditions; genetic fidelity; plant tissue culture; rooting; semi-lignified stems as explants.