Influence of silver nitrate and copper sulphate on somatic embryogenesis, shoot morphogenesis, multiplication and associated physiological biochemical changes in Gladiolus hybridus L.

Abstract Micronutrients are essential for in vitro plant tissue growth, and studying their culture medium levels manipulation to promote growth and morphogenesis is essential in plant tissue culture experiments. In the present study, influence of CuSO4.5H2O (0–15 µM), AgNO3 (0–60 µM) and their combinations on callus induction and various morphogenic processes at different treatment levels were studied in G. hybridus. AgNO3 was more efficient in promoting the parameters studied, with 40 µM been more efficient over other treatment levels tested. In the case of CuSO4.5H2O treatments, maximum efficiency was achieved with 7.5 µM over other concentration treatment of the tissues analysed. Results of the experiments on morphogenesis and associated physiological biochemical changes suggests that combined treatment with the two metals promoted morphogenesis at higher levels through influence on physiological biochemical changes essential for the morphogenic parameters studied. Application of the technique on embryogenic tissue formation and somatic embryos differentiation seems of appropriate application when using metals for the experiment.