Adventitious shoot formation on ex vitro derived leaf explants of Gerbera jamesonii

Abstract

The effects of four factors on adventitious shoot formation on leaf explants of gerbera cultivar ‘Sardis’ were examined: preparation of leaf explants, composition of culture medium, the kind of ex vitro stock plants and low temperature pre-treatment of stock plants. Adventitious shoot formation occurred at the base of leaf petioles (detached and cut off from stock plants). The addition of 6-benzylamino-purine (BA) to the culture medium was more effective than the addition of 6-furfuryl amino-purine (kinetin). Leaves with petioles shortened to one-half in length as well as leaves without petioles did not form adventitious shoots. Adventitious shoot formation on leaves derived from single, rooted plants was poor in comparison with leaves derived from stock clusters. In a separate experiment, the ability of 27 other cultivars of gerbera to regenerate adventitious shoots on ex vitro derived leaf explants was tested.