J. Plant Biochemistry & Biotechnology Vol.

18(2), 209-215, July 2009

In Vitro Regeneration of Mat Sedge (Cyperus pangorei Rottb)

J F Benazir*, B Mathithumilan, P Ravichandran, Vinodhini Jochebed, R Suganthi and V Manimekalai
Plant Developmental Biology and Biotechnology Division, Sriparamakalyani Center for Environmental Sciences (SPKCES),
Alwarkurichi
627 412, Tamil Nadu, India
An in vitro protocol was developed for regeneration of Cyperus pangorei that may supplement enough raw materials for
the
mat weaving community. Callus was initiated from inflorescence explants on Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) medium
supplemented with 5 and 10 μM each of 2, 4-D, 2, 4, 5- T and CPA. Development of numerous de novo spikelets from
immature
inflorescence explants grown in (10 μM) 2, 4, 5-T was observed. MS with 5 μM Kn and 100 ml l-¹ Coconut milk (CM)
promoted
shoot regeneration from calli. Calli from 2,4-D and CPA medium sub-cultured on medium containing 5 μM BAP, 5 μM Kn, 1
μM
IAA and 100 ml l-¹ CM produced extensive and rapid rhizogenesis with wiry and scaly roots. Micropropagation using
rhizome
buds on MS medium with BAP, Kn and Zeatin at 10 μM concentrations resulted in shoot release and multiplication by
breaking the bud dormancy. An average of 10 shoots per explant was produced in 10 μM BAP, whereas (10 μM) Kn and (10
μM)
Zeatin induced only single shoot formation. The shoots were transferred to rooting media comprising 10 μM IAA with 1 μM
BAP or Kn and then acclimatized. The results accomplished were found to be useful in developing a complete in vitro
regeneration protocol towards the mass production of Cyperus species, which may provide a basis for further genetic
improvements that may prove its use as an alternative natural fibre resource in commercial applications.

Key words: Cyperus pangorei, in vitro regeneration, de novo spikelets, 2,4,5-T.

Cyperus is a large genus that comprises of about 600-700

species of sedges, distributed in tropical and temperate

regions. Mostly they are aquatic and annual or perennial

species. Cyperus pangorei Rottb. is a rhizomatous sedge

widely present in all parts of India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and

Myanmar (1). It was known since 2400 BC that the

Egyptians used to make paper from the pith of C. pangorei

(2). The culms of C. pangorei provide material for making

the world famous ‘silk mats’ of Pathamadai. The Silk mats

of Pathamadai are superfine, extremely delicate and the

most aristrocratic mats in the world that is highly priced.

Pathamadai is a village located in Tirunelveli Kattaboman

district, Tamil Nadu State, India. Two communities: the

labbais and rauthers weave mats though it is the superfine

mats, which the Labbai predominantly weave that have

made Pathamadai famous. The surface of the mat is softer

than silk and can be folded like a cloth and carried in a

man’s fist if rolled like a stick. In the late 1950’s the craft had

almost died, but efforts by government and non-government

agencies and designers have put the mats back on track.

Four national awards and several state awards for master

crafts person for fine mat weaving, have continued to ensure

*Corresponding author. E-mail: fathima.benazir@gmail.com

Present address: School of Biotechnology, Dr. G. R. Damodaran

College of Science, Civil Aerodrome Post, Coimbatore 641 014,

Tamil Nadu, India

that Pathamadai mats are regularly represented in

important craft bazaars and receive media attention (3).

Highly stable nature and developmental pattern of

the vascular bundle and fibrous arrangement of the

cyperus culm finds use in the mat industries (4). It is also

extensively used to make handbags, baskets, tablemats,

yoga mats, window curtains, wall hangings, and fans. In

India, C. pangorei is obtained more commonly from the

wild than from the cultivated source (5). Its cultivation

practices in India are unknown, but reports of its cultivation

in Mauritius and China for their special mats are available

(5). Few attempts have been made to culture Cyperus

species and very few are available in the literature on

regeneration through rhizomes of Cyperus rotundus (6),

and C. iria (7) and inflorescence cultures of C. rotundus

and Carex flacca (8, 9).

Although in vitro studies had been reported in

monocotyledonous plant species, the protocols are not

amenable for regeneration and micropropagation of C.

pangorei, as it lacks the natural ability for secondary growth

by cambium. As there was no in vitro regeneration protocol

for C. pangorei reported earlier and considering demand

due to drastic environmental changes and lack of

cultivation practices in India, the specific objective of the