A comparative study of effects of nutrient media and cultural conditions on shoot multiplication ofin-vitrocultures ofCamellia japonicaexplants

Abstract

SummaryShoot cultures of Camellia japonica L. seedlings and C. japonica ‘Alba plena’ were established in vitro using shoot-tip explants from 4–5 month old plants, and shoot apices and nodal segments were obtained from rooted cuttings of mature trees. The effects of six macroelement formulae on the multiplication and elongation rates of juvenile camellia cultures were studied. The Murashige and Skoog medium containing BAP and kinetin supported the highest growth rates in cultures. The initiation of Camellia ‘Alba plena’ only occurred using the Heller plus 1 mM (NH4)2SO4 macronutrient formulae containing BAP and NAA. The MS medium proved to be toxic for the initiation of mature camellias. The addition of IAA (0.1 mg l−1) and AS (20 mg l−1), alone or in combination, to the basal medium improved neither the multiplication rate nor the general appearance of juvenile camellia cultures. Incubation of cultures in 12 or 18 h of daylight did not affect the general development of the cultures. The use of NAA (0.1 mg...