A scheme for commercial propagation of ornamental plants by tissue culture

Abstract

The use of tissue culture for cloning ornamentals is expensive and presently limited to a certain number of species. However, the introduction of some additional new techniques may possibly reduce the cost and broaden the range of plants that can be propagated economically in vitro. In this report, a survey is given of the methodology followed in our laboratory and its adaptation to commercial practices. Stock plants are grown under controlled conditions prior to in vitro culture in order to obtain healthier explants and uniform response (stage 0). After the establishment of aseptic cultures (stage I), buds are propagated (stage II), and are then prepared to harvest uniform cuttings (stage IIIa). Those cuttings are rooted under in vivo conditions (stage IIIb).