Nepenthes - the Tropical Pitcher Plants

New species of Nepenthes are being described on a somewhat regular basis as more remote areas of their range in southeast Asia are explored.  Tissue culture is typically from seed, but it is also possible to propagate plants by meristem culture.  This challenging technique requires a fair amount of plant material because contamination rates are high.  Our lab uses either a liquid media on a rotator for small meristems (~2 mm in size)  or solid media for larger shoots as described below. 

Jian-Miao, C., G. Pei-Yuan, and G. Quan.  2003.  Tissue culture and rapid

        propagation of Nepenthes mirabilis.  Plant Physiology Communications.  39: 40.

Rasco Jr., E. T. and M. A. D. Maquilan.  2005.  Initial studies on in vitro

        germination and early seedling growth of Nepenthes truncata Macf.

        Carnivorous Plant Newsletter.  34: 51 - 55.

Song-Jun, Z., C. Zhi-Lin, and D. Jun.  2003.  Tissue culture and rapid propagation

        of Nepenthes x hybridus cv. Dyeriana.  Plant Physiology Communications.  39:

        479.

Tandon, P. and T. S. Rathore.  1994.  Mass clonal multiplication of the threatened

        Indian insectivorous plant (Nepenthes khasiana Hook F.) through shoot bud

        culture.  In:  P.  Tandon, ed.  Advances in Plant Tissue Culture in India:

        Proceedings of the XIII Plant Tissue Culture Conference, October 18-20, 1989,

        Shillong, India. Pragati Prakashan, Meerut, India, pp. 185 - 192.