Application of Coconut (Cocos Nucifera) Water as an alternative source of Plant growth Hormones for Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) tissue culture

Application of Coconut (Cocos Nucifera) Water as an alternative source of Plant growth Hormones for Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) tissue culture | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Application of Coconut (Cocos Nucifera) Water as an alternative source of Plant growth Hormones for Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) tissue culture Joshua Ndukwe, Reuben Nwoye Okechi, Emmanuel Chukwunonso Ebem, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9507088/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 8 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background Tissue culture provides a solution for the quick propagation of ginger to overcome its constantly increasing demand due to its medicinal, spicy, and confectionery uses. Phytohormones are crucial growth regulators in plant tissue culture, and coconut water is a promising, economical, and available alternative source. This research investigated the effects of different concentrations (5%, 10%, and 20%) of coconut water obtained from two varieties (Samoan tall and Nias green) at different maturity stages (Mature and Immature) from three locations (Aboh, Ahiazu, and Ezinihitte LGA) on the height, number of leaves, vigor, survival rate, and root/shoot development of ginger plants. Results The variety, location, and maturity levels of coconut water had no significant (p > 0.05) effect on the development of the ginger plants. However, the concentration of coconut water had a significant (p > 0.05) effect on ginger development. Ginger plants cultured in MS basal medium supplemented with 10% coconut water performed as well as those in the control medium (conventional phytohormones) and showed no significant (p < 0.05) difference when compared with the 20% supplementation. Conversely, ginger cultured in 5% coconut water failed in vigor compared to the auxin-containing control. Conclusions Coconut water proved to be an effective and reliable, local, and cheap alternative source of phytohormones for the tissue culture of ginger. Coconut Water Ginger Tissue Culture Phytohormone Alternative Source Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviewers agreed at journal 10 May, 2026 Reviews received at journal 08 May, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 08 May, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 08 May, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 08 May, 2026 Editor invited by journal 08 May, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 08 May, 2026 First submitted to journal 08 May, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9507088","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":637685106,"identity":"46d1d0b4-c481-49ae-9ec2-411be9813a7f","order_by":0,"name":"Joshua Ndukwe","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABC0lEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBAC9gYGNgjrAIiukINwePBoYUTVcsYYopp4LYxtxGhpb3/2mKeGIY/vRlqaxMd5Bon72RsYH7xtY8iTd8ChpeeMuTHPMYZiyRtpxyRnbjNI7OE5wGw4t42h2PAADi0zctikedgYEjfcSG+7zbvtT2KPRAKbNG8bQ+LGBlxa0p9J8/yDavk7xwCkhf03Pi2CMxLMwGZuADrsNmMDWAsbM0hkPg7vS/OcMZOc2yeROPPMs/SfPccMjHvOHGyWnHNOInEDDi187O3PJN58s0nsO55mbPCjxkC2vb354Ic3ZTaJ83E4DAokUPzXABYxOIBXCzYgj9+WUTAKRsEoGDkAAErRXOJ4f6bLAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"","institution":"Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO)","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Joshua","middleName":"","lastName":"Ndukwe","suffix":""},{"id":637685109,"identity":"fa77ff60-ae7f-4b3f-8fb6-fcaa8028933f","order_by":1,"name":"Reuben Nwoye Okechi","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO)","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Reuben","middleName":"Nwoye","lastName":"Okechi","suffix":""},{"id":637685111,"identity":"e91f2963-ca2e-4741-bc3c-cc4c607241f3","order_by":2,"name":"Emmanuel Chukwunonso Ebem","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Alex-Ekwueme Federal University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Emmanuel","middleName":"Chukwunonso","lastName":"Ebem","suffix":""},{"id":637685113,"identity":"33606798-fb53-41d1-8c64-59cffd69d1c6","order_by":3,"name":"Ngozi Mercy Olatunji","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO)","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Ngozi","middleName":"Mercy","lastName":"Olatunji","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-04-23 13:08:07","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9507088/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9507088/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":109760203,"identity":"c1adbabc-7871-4071-b1b0-3638bdcb59e6","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-05-22 07:28:18","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":2250907,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Thelastcorrection.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9507088/v1_covered_faedabcd-9dcc-4f7e-8ad5-6fe4406166cc.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Application of Coconut (Cocos Nucifera) Water as an alternative source of Plant growth Hormones for Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) tissue culture","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"bmc-plant-biology","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"pbio","sideBox":"Learn more about [BMC Plant Biology](http://bmcplantbiol.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/pbio/default.aspx","title":"BMC Plant Biology","twitterHandle":"BMC_series","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Coconut Water, Ginger, Tissue Culture, Phytohormone, Alternative Source","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9507088/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9507088/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003ch2\u003eBackground\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eTissue culture provides a solution for the quick propagation of ginger to overcome its constantly increasing demand due to its medicinal, spicy, and confectionery uses. Phytohormones are crucial growth regulators in plant tissue culture, and coconut water is a promising, economical, and available alternative source. This research investigated the effects of different concentrations (5%, 10%, and 20%) of coconut water obtained from two varieties (Samoan tall and Nias green) at different maturity stages (Mature and Immature) from three locations (Aboh, Ahiazu, and Ezinihitte LGA) on the height, number of leaves, vigor, survival rate, and root/shoot development of ginger plants.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResults\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe variety, location, and maturity levels of coconut water had no significant (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05) effect on the development of the ginger plants. However, the concentration of coconut water had a significant (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05) effect on ginger development. Ginger plants cultured in MS basal medium supplemented with 10% coconut water performed as well as those in the control medium (conventional phytohormones) and showed no significant (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05) difference when compared with the 20% supplementation. Conversely, ginger cultured in 5% coconut water failed in vigor compared to the auxin-containing control.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eConclusions\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eCoconut water proved to be an effective and reliable, local, and cheap alternative source of phytohormones for the tissue culture of ginger.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Application of Coconut (Cocos Nucifera) Water as an alternative source of Plant growth Hormones for Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) tissue culture","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-05-18 10:41:32","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9507088/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"100055695962389270895049592441414719840","date":"2026-05-10T14:41:08+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-05-08T16:42:21+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"295389274824814887479242040665844824143","date":"2026-05-08T12:57:12+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2026-05-08T08:11:01+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2026-05-08T07:41:00+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"","date":"2026-05-08T07:23:43+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2026-05-08T04:15:47+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"BMC Plant Biology","date":"2026-05-08T04:10:12+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"bmc-plant-biology","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"pbio","sideBox":"Learn more about [BMC Plant Biology](http://bmcplantbiol.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/pbio/default.aspx","title":"BMC Plant Biology","twitterHandle":"BMC_series","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"79051244-9acb-443c-ab80-e02173c70835","owner":[],"postedDate":"May 18th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"100055695962389270895049592441414719840","date":"2026-05-10T14:41:08+00:00","index":25,"fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-05-08T16:42:21+00:00","index":23,"fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"295389274824814887479242040665844824143","date":"2026-05-08T12:57:12+00:00","index":22,"fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"7","date":"2026-05-08T08:11:01+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2026-05-08T07:41:00+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"","date":"2026-05-08T07:23:43+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2026-05-08T04:15:47+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"BMC Plant Biology","date":"2026-05-08T04:10:12+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-05-18T10:41:32+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-05-18 10:41:32","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-9507088","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-9507088","identity":"rs-9507088","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}