In vitro induction and characterization of tetraploid Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin Benth.) plant

Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin Benth.) is one kind of plant from Indonesia which is producing oil. In vitro induction of tetraploid in Patchouli plant and cytological and morphological characterization were conducted. Induced polyploidy was done by culturing leaf explant on MS medium added with a varying concentration of colchicine. It was observed that colchicine on MS medium mostly affect to growth of explant and shoot regeneration. Tetraploid plants were determined by observation of chromosome number. The tetraploid plants have chromosome number (2n = 4x = 128), twice higher than those of diploid plants (2n = 2x = 64). The tetraploid plants exhibited much larger stomata size but less than diploid plants. The tetraploid plants also showed more glandular hairs than diploid plants. Significant different in morphological characters between the diploid and tetraploid plants were noted. Leaf size and stem diameter of the tetraploids plant are larger than the diploid plants. In this study, the tetraploids Patchouli have a promising potential as a superior variety.