Effect of Soluble Chitosan Application on in Vitro Germination and Growth of Dormant Corms of Colchicum

Corms and the above ground parts of the yellow meadow saffron (Colchicum luteum Baker) have been proposed for the isolation of colchicine and colchamine in our country. Corms are collected and stored in large quantities for the extraction which result in rapid depletion of the raw material sources. In order to investigate the effects of chitosan on germination and growth of corms of Colchicum luteum Baker, corms were treated in vitro with soluble chitosan at different concentrations including 0, 0.005, 0.015, 0.05, 0.15, 0.5, 0.75 and 1 gm/l added to the MS tissue culture medium. Germinated corms were evaluated for growth parameters in vitro only. At the concentrations of 0.75 and 1 g/l of chitosan the culture medium failed to solidify. Application of 0.5 g/l of chitosan increased the germination percentage, shoot fresh weight as compared to untreated, but its lower concentration did not significantly affect this trait (P < 0.05). The 0.015 and 0.5 g/l of chitosan led to a significant increase in shoot length and dry weight of in vitro plantlets. The present results indicate that soluble chitosan can be successfully incorporated into culture medium for in vitro germination of Colchicum corms stored at room temperature over period of one year.