Water lily (Nymphaea micrantha Guill. & Perr) is an aquatic plant that is well known for its nutritional value and medicinal
uses. The lack of adequate information regarding propagation and farming techniques has led to the low utilization
of this valuable plant. To address the knowledge gap in the use of water lily rhizomes as explants in tissue
culture, in this study, the processes of sterilization, induction, proliferation, and rooting in water lily tissue culture
are examined. Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the best methods, materials, and concentrations
to develop an ideal method for producing water lily plants. Disinfection with 75% C2H5OH
for 2 min + 0.1%
HgCl2
for 15 min produced the best results, with a contamination rate of 30% and a browning rate of 25%, according
to the data. The results indicated that indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) is the optimal plant growth regulator for the induction
of water lily rhizomes. Medium containing 3 mg L–
1 of 6-BA was most suitable for the induction of water lily
adventitious shoots, with an induction rate of up to 80% and a yield of 2 to 8 shoots. The induction rate of water lily
adventitious shoots approached 80% in medium supplemented with 3 mg L–
1 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA). The best
medium for inducing root development contained IBA at a concentration of 0.5 mg L–
1, which resulted in rapid root
elongation. The best tissue culture techniques identified in the present study were successful in growing full water
lily plants with good and vigorous growth from tuberous rhizomes to flowering plants. This early success in water lily
tissue culture technology provides crucial technical assistance for ex vitro preservation and water lily seedling growth.
This study offers a workable answer to one of the most significant obstacles preventing the spread of the use of water
lily culture by outlining a good technique that results in robust and healthy seedlings, which helps lower the cost
of cultivation.