Foliar-Anatomical Adaptations of Micropropagated Plants of Dendrocalamus strictus (Roxb.) Nees Towards Photoautotrophic Conditions

Abstract

Dendrocalamus strictus (Roxb.) Nees (family: Poaceae) is an economically important bamboo species explored worldwide for its wider adaptability. In vitro propagation is an alternate platform and has astonishing benefits in large-scale production of disease-free clones of the important plant species. Despite several efforts implicated to improve the in vitro propagation of D. strictus, the protocols were hindered by certain morpho-anatomical and physiological disorders of in vitro system that is directly connected with the physiology and plantlet development. Hence, this study is centred on the analysis of foliar-anatomical alterations persuaded in the foliar apparatus regenerated under controlled conditions and after acclimatization. The structural, functional, and enhanced level of photosynthetic pigments has evolved with subsequent stages of plantlet developments from lab to the greenhouse acclimatization, and the alteration of necessary structural changes allowed successful plantlet survival in the field. The parameters evaluated revealed the gradual adaptational developments through the acclimatization process in the greenhouse which could help in the prediction of the survival percentage of plantlets in the field. The present protocol has potential applications in the propagation and supply of structurally developed and physiologically active tissue culture-raised plantlets of D. strictus to meet the commercial demand.