Micropropagation of venus flytrap Dionaea muscipula

Abstract

Dionaea muscipula, also known as Venus flytrap, is an endangered carnivorous plant which has origin from North and South Carolina, USA. An efficient protocol for large-scale multiplication of this species has been set up through 3 stages: shoot multiplication, root induction and moving plant to the natural environment. On the half-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium,  supplemented with 0.5 mg/L kinetin gave the highest shoot proliferation of 20.44 ± 2.14 shoots/explant; adding 0.5 mg/l α - naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) induced the best rooting 5.33 ± 0.44 roots/shoot. The 4-5 cm plantlets were then transplanted on the rooting medium including 50 % peat and 50 % perlite. In the first 14 days, they were placed in the light room with the application of an anti-transpirant film, irrigated 3 times/day and after that all moved to the garden. The rate of successful transfer process reached nearly 100 %.