Establishment of in vitro Cultures of Tapinanthus bangwensis (Engler and K. Krause) Danser and the Effects of Sugars on Growth1

Abstract

Culturing of organs in vitro has been successfully employed in studies on morphogenesis and nutritional requirements of parasitic and semi-paraaitic angiosperms. Tapinanthus bangwensis, a semi-parasite, has been successfully cultured on chemically defined media. By and large the parasite will thrive well in a medium of mineral salts and sucrose at its optimal concentration (4 per cent). However, the parasite is able to metabolize a wide range of sugars most of which show similar concentration optima Although the growth in vivo was simulated in vitro in the early stages, it was found that in the later stages growth in vitro was much slower than growth in vivo. The growth differences observed in the different media may reflect some of the physiological differences that are responsible for the selective nature of the parasite's development and establishment on different hosts